Parties and parking woes

Hyderabad, Oct. 29: Political parties are causing traffic problems not just through their rallies but also through their offices.
Apart from the Congress headquarters, the office of no prominent political party in the state capital has got a parking lot.
Though political leaders are the first to criticise the lack of parking space in the city, they often forget that the situation is the same in their offices.
The Telugu Desam's central office, the NTR Trust Bhavan, takes the lead by constantly creating traffic snarls for commuters who pass through Jubilee Hills check post to the Punjagutta thoroughfare. Located at the busy Jubilee Hills area, the office was constructed during the rule of Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu. Though this swanky four-storied building which looks alike a corporate office has got enough parking space inside the premises, no vehicle is allowed into the compound except for Mr Naidu's convoy.
Apart from mediapersons who go for press meets, party leaders including politburo members have to park their vehicles outside the building, creating a major headache for the traffic police. When the TD leadership holds party meetings or training camps, the traffic situation in front of the NTR Bhavan turns even worse and commuters have to face hour-long traffic hold-ups. A few days ago, mediapersons complained about the lack of parking space to Mr Naidu himself. Many of them said they were afraid their two wheelers would be stolen if kept outside the building and urged him to provide parking facility inside the compound.

Making light of scribes' fears, the TD chief replied with a smile, "Nowadays you lose your vehicles even at your houses, despite taking all safety measures. What can one do when you park the vehicles at busy areas?"

The headquarters of the CPI and the CPI(M) are no exceptions and the same is the case with the Telangana Rastra Samiti's headquarters Telangana Bhavan.

Though the Praja Rajyam claims to be "different" it has also followed its predecessors by setting up a central office without a parking lot. The second central office of the Praja Rajyam thrown open a week ago at Krishna Nagar has also got no provision for parking.