Financial Times

To park or not to park? That is the question
By Anjuli Gunaratne and Iromi Perera
Businesses down Duplication Road are in a dilemma as a result of the new traffic plans that are to be implemented within a few weeks. The Colombo Traffic Police have made plans to reduce traffic congestion in the city. Galle Road and Duplication Road will be made one way and parking will not be allowed down Duplication Road, one of the most commercialized areas in Colombo.

The changes are meant to improve traffic flows in the city and are expected to have an overall economic benefit by reducing the time wasted by motorists stuck in traffic jams. But they might hurt businesses in the immediate vicinity.

"Already the police have started some restrictions and they don't allow people to park on both sides of the road," said Rohini Dolawatta, Manager, Fresh Fish. "We're really in a fix because if our customers have nowhere to park now, imagine what'll happen after the changes are made," she added.

SSP Traffic Y. Lafir told The Sunday Times FT they have decided to make these changes starting from the end of September or October. The Galle Road will be made one way from the Bambalapitiya flats to Kollupitiya junction (3.8km). Duplication Road will also be made one way from the Liberty Plaza round about to about Dharmarama Road (4km).

The flow of traffic along alternate roads connecting Galle Road to Duplication Road will remain the same. Parking down these roads will be allowed although parking down Duplication Road will be strictly prohibited.

"Anyone who wants to park on Duplication Road will have to park down Galle Road and walk to his or her destination", said Lafir. He added that parking along the seaside of the Galle Road in the evening would be allowed.

One month will be given to the public to get accustomed to these changes after which police officers will be assigned along the Duplication Road to make sure no driver disobeys the law. According to Lafir, plans are also being made to construct nine bus halts along Duplication Road parallel to the halts on the landside of the Galle Road.

"Usually, during peak hours it takes at least 25 minutes to go from the Bambalapitiya flats to the Kollupitiya junction, but after the changes travelling time will be reduced by 10 to 12 minutes at least," said Lafir.

A Traffic Committee has been set up to plan and implement these changes. So far the Mayor of Colombo, the Secretary of Transport and the Finance Ministry have pledged their support to the changes. According to Lafir these plans will enable the public to spend less time on the road and more time at their work places. Is it possible that Sri Lanka's economy will benefit greatly after these changes?

The business community along the Duplication Road does not seem too sure. They wonder whether they will have as much business as they do now after the police start to make the changes.

"I do not feel that the businesses along the Duplication Road will suffer any losses because there will be less congestion," said Lafir. When speaking to the managers and employees of some of the businesses we learnt that they share a totally different point of view.

"This is a commercial area. Even though there are alternative roads along the Duplication Road there are so many businesses that there will not be enough room for every one's customers to park," said an employee of Bistro Latino, a popular restaurant. "We can't expect our customers to walk all the way from the Galle Road especially in the evenings. Can't they permit parking on at least one side of the road?"

The employees at Posh Clothes boutique shared a similar view and added that it would be a waste of their customers' time if they have to walk all the way from Galle Road. "Will they bother?" asked one. Most of the businesses said that the new plans would cause inconvenience and hassle for their customers.

Duplication Road is very commercialized with companies like Dialog GSM, Mobitel, Stone and String and Lanka Granite and food outlets like Caravan, Perera and Sons and Delifrance. The British Council, House of Fashion and Liberty Plaza are also situated along the road and attract a great deal of customers.

How will these companies and businesses manage to accommodate the new changes without losing business or their customers? The impact the changes will make is yet to be seen. The police clearly have good intentions for making these changes, but it might help if they worked along with the business community on Duplication Road. That way the business community will be able to voice their views and secure their customers.

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