Mayor Gautam Deb has warned realtors against selling stipulated parking areas of residential buildings for commercial purposes and noted that such practices are causing traffic congestion in Siliguri.

“The SMC (Siliguri Municipal Corporation) will take strict action against builders who sell parking areas. It is worrying that a section of realtors sells parking areas for alternative use, even though there is a clear provision in building plans to leave the parking area free. This trend is aggravating the problem of traffic congestion throughout the city. From now on, plans of buildings not having proper parking space will not be approved by the civic body,” said Deb.

He was speaking at an interactive session hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the “urban landscape” in north Bengal” on Friday.

Traffic congestion, especially during rush hours, is a major problem across Siliguri.

The mayor also underscored that the SMC was taking an initiative to promote sustainable construction practices and would issue a notification in this regard soon.

“To promote environmentally sustainable development in the real estate sector, tax benefits or concessions will be offered to builders who incorporate specific provisions in their projects. They include rainwater harvesting, maintaining green building standards, introducing solar power systems and having ample green plantations in the area,” said Deb.

He said the SMC was checking the movement of e-rickshaws in the city, which is considered yet another reason for traffic congestion.

In the past couple of days, Siliguri Metropolitan Police undertook a drive to stop the plying of non-registered e-rickshaws in prominent thoroughfares of the city.

At the event, the mayor also elaborated on the upcoming drinking water supply project and said repairs would soon start on Sevoke Road, one of the major roads in Siliguri.

“We are also coming up with sewerage treatment plants (STPs) to check pollution of rivers and rivulets which flow through the city and its surroundings. The work on one of the STPs with a budget of ₹255 crore is in progress. Also, the expansion of Eastern Bypass and Burdwan Road is going on,” Deb said.

Narendra C. Garg, the chairman of the CII north Bengal, said the industry body was committed to working with the government and urban local bodies for the comprehensive development of the region.

“The session was effective as we learned about the plans of the SMC while highlighting certain issues about the real estate sector of this region with the mayor and others,” said Garg.