New, improved German Bakery may come with parking woes

Excited about the reopening of German Bakery? Well, your excitement may be short-lived if you plan to drive down there in your four-wheeler. Getting parking space outside the joint will be a tough task as the traffic division has turned Koregaon Park's Lane A into a no-parking zone for the last four months. The police are taking strict action against those found parking their vehicle in the lane.

The German Bakery has parking facilities for two-wheelers, but there is no space to park four-wheelers. Though most people around the bakery chose to be tight-lipped about the issue, a few pointed out that this had been the case for the last few months.

Local shopkeepers and residents have been complaining about vehicles parking in front of their shops and residential complex.

A shopkeeper, who requested anonymity, said, "Four-wheelers have always been a problem. They have been numerous complaints because people park in front of residential complexes."

Umesh Pongadwae, in-charge of a shop beside the bakery, said, "The road has been turned into a no-parking zone since the past few months now. Earlier commuters parked their cars somehow, but now they can not do it. So, it will definitely be a problem after the bakery reopens. On the premises, there is no space for four-wheelers."

Shamsuddin Mirzawan, an auto driver who stands at the Lane A auto stand, pointed out that commuters had to drive ahead till Lane 1 or Lane B and park their vehicles.

The owners of the bakery are not treating the parking issue as a priority.

They want to concentrate on the construction of the bakery and then think about the parking, but the traffic division is very strict that the bakery can not reopen till permissions are taken from the city commissioner.

Snehal Kharose, owner of German Bakery, said, "We want to just concentrate on the constructions and parking is not a priority now. But we will definitely think of something soon. People can go to Lane 1 or wherever there is parking space and walk back to the bakery. Not every eatery provides parking space."

Manoj Patil, DCP, Traffic pointed out that their parking proposal was cancelled in the past. "They cannot open the bakery till they get a certificate from the city commissioner and an NOC from the traffic division. We had earlier cancelled their parking proposal as they were using the space meant for parking as sitting area. If things continue like before, it's going to be painful for everyone."