No parking fee hike for now

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 8

In a relief to city residents, the General House of the Municipal Corporation has deferred the proposal for a hike in the parking charges. It has decided to continue charging the existing rates — Rs 5 for two-wheelers and Rs 10 for four-wheelers — till the final decision is taken at the next meeting of the House. The decision was taken at a special meeting of the House held to discuss the terms and conditions of the parking lots in the city.

A panel, headed by Arun Sood, presented its recommendations in the House. While the panel suggested three options for the rates to be charged in the new tender, a majority of the members opposed it, saying that there was no need to hike the rates.

Deputy Mayor Kanwar Rana and Devinder Singh Babla, Congress councillor, boycotted the House. While Rana opposed the “attitude of offices” in pressuring councillors to take a decision, Babla alleged that the BJP leadership backtracked on its promise of not enhancing the parking rates. Babla said BJP leaders, including the MP, had promised not to enhance the rates before the elections, but they were now dilly-dallying on the decision.

When Davesh Moudgil, BJP councillor, opposed any proposal for a hike in the rates, a majority of the BJP councillors supported his suggestion for keeping the existing rates in the new tender. However, officials, including MC Commissioner KK Yadav, insisted on not reducing the rates from the old rates levied by the Arya Toll company, but members were unanimous in their decision. Later, it was decided that the final decision will be taken at the next meeting of the House in the presence of Kirron Kher, MP.

The parking rates were reduced soon after the cancellation of the contract of Arya Toll before the elections. Arya Toll was charging slab-wise and the rates increased after every four hours. Nominated councillor Charanjiv Singh also opposed any hike in the rates.

Recommendations tabled by panel

• 90 new paid parking lots proposed in different sectors of the city
• No fee shall be charged for pick and drop at parking lots for 10 minutes
• No parking fee for non-commercial electrical vehicles in lots run by the MC
• Heavy penalty clause of up to Rs 10,000 proposed for violations in smart parking services
• Parking app to be developed by the MC for showing real-time occupancy, location and complaints
• e-payment system and LED display to be made mandatory
• Boombarrier facility at the Elante Mall and lake parking lots
• HD night vision CCTV cameras and compulsory e-ticketing

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