Jaipur: Morning walkers at Central Park have prepared a memorandum to be submitted to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, seeking permission to park their vehicles on land beneath which an underground parking lot has been constructed. On Saturday, the walkers carried out a signature campaign at Central Park for the memorandum.The walkers alleged they used the space for years but now the Rambagh Golf Club (RGC) had restricted access following completion of the parking lot. “The govt spent crores of public money to make an underground parking lot for citizens. The facility has not been opened to the public yet but a private club has taken advantage of the construction and restricted public access to the parking area,” stated Yogesh Yadav, president of Central Park Banchao Sangharsh Samiti (CPBSS).Club officials were not available for comment. A senior JDA official disclosed that a decision was taken by senior UDH department officials during the Congress govt that, post-construction, the surface of the parking would be exclusively used by the RGC.The citizens’ memorandum states that a 2014 high court order clearly directed the state govt to ensure no one could prevent ordinary citizens from parking at the area. It requests the CM to take up the issue with the UDH department and the JDA.“The club officials have put up barricades, stationed guards and bouncers, and are using strong-arm tactics to prevent citizens from parking on this public land. If the govt does not sort it out, we will move high court with fresh petitions,” stated Yadav.
