Ranchi: Upper Bazar, Ranchi’s busiest commercial hub, continues to reel under an acute parking crisis, with narrow roads, rampant encroachments and rising vehicle numbers bringing traffic to a crawl on most days.The situation worsens during peak hours or festive seasons, causing frequent jams, unsafe roadside parking and inconvenience to both shoppers and traders.According to Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) records, over 200 shops operate in Upper Bazar. Each shop was originally allotted an area of around 150 square feet. However, many establishments have extended their structures beyond the sanctioned space, encroaching upon public land and footpaths. “Several shops have violated the allotted area and expanded outward, which has significantly reduced road width and worsened congestion,” an RMC official said.The market area, which roughly spans a perimeter of around two kilometres, lacks a designated parking facility. Hence, two-wheelers, cars and delivery vehicles are parked haphazardly along the narrow lanes, further choking movement.“There is no proper place to park. Vehicles are left anywhere, and traffic remains jammed for long stretches,” said Anil Kumar, a daily commuter who passes through Upper Bazar.Another shopper expressed her concern. “Rangrez Gali feels like a dhobi ghat. Clothes are hung right up to the road, and there is hardly any walking space left. Just looking at the lane feels suffocating,” said Ayesha Parveen, a college student.Shopkeepers say the parking chaos is also affecting business. “Customers avoid coming here because they fear getting stuck or fined. Even loading and unloading goods becomes a challenge,” said Bilal, a garment trader at Bakri Bazar.RMC officials said while no official data is available on the exact spatial spread of encroachments, clarity is expected after drone mapping of the area is completed.
