“If an office has 200 employees, then sufficient car park should be provided to cater for this size since majority of staff have vehicles nowadays,” he said.
The newly elected Labasa Chamber of Commerce and Industries president, Vinesh Dayal, is urging all existing and new businesses to provision sufficient vehicle parking area. A vehicle parking in Labasa Town. Photo: Sampras Anand
All existing and upcoming business operators in Labasa Town must ensure that they provide sufficient parking area for customers and their needs.
This was the message from Labasa Chamber and Industries president, Vinesh Dayal, who said there is a standard formula for such provision which the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) office uses.
“We can no longer just approve business setup plans and allow people too actually have leeway car parks,” he said.
Mr Dayal suggested new vehicle parking planning policies in conjunction with the council and chamber would help solve the parking problem.
“If an office has 200 employees, then sufficient car park should be provided to cater for this size since majority of staff have vehicles nowadays,” he said.
This proposed policy included: where every new business building should have adequate car park to address the parking problem encountered.
Mr Dayal said while sufficient vehicle parking areas was a challenge, they would create temporary solution within the next few weeks – a 100 vehicle parking area at JC’s Park which will be in operation for six months
To mitigate illegal parking, the Labasa Town Council recently launched their digital parking meters.
Acting chief executive officer, Mohammed Faiz Ali, said these meters would enhance the council’s revenue with an additional $1000 per meter compared to the $30 per old meter.
This additional income is expected to assist council with facilitation of more vehicle parking spaces.
Chief guest at the launching on that occasion, Minister for Local Government, Maciu Katamotu, also emphasised to make more space available for vehicle parking in all 13 municipalities in the country.
The Labasa Damodar City complex constructed a reasonably sized car parking area which is expected to solve some parking problems and this was acknowledged by Mr Dayal.
The other solution the chamber aims to work with Government on is the construction of a bypass road for vehicles entering the town.
The current traffic congestion in Labasa must be solved to ensure the town expanded with more businesses opening.
Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj
