Parking fee: MC House not authorised to cancel pact

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 15

While the MC General House will discuss the shortcomings in the operation of paid parking lots in the city on Monday, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the civic body and the parking firm, Arya Toll Infra Limited, does not authorise the House to cancel the contract once approved by it.

Sources said as per the MOU, the licence to operate parking lots could be cancelled only by additional commissioner or joint commissioner of the MC in case of adverse verification of the antecedents of the licensee by the District Magistrate of the place of the residence and in case it was found at any stage that the licensee was defaulter of the Chandigarh civic body.

Sources said the licence could also be cancelled if the company violated the terms of the contract five times. These violations include overcharging, non-issuance of parking slips, commercial activities in the parking areas and non-availability of e-ticketing machines. Additional or joint commissioner of the MC could cancel the contract after giving a hearing to the firm.

There is no mention of cancellation of contract for violations like employees not in uniform, misbehaviour by licencee or any of his employees and parking of the vehicles in an unauthorised area or haphazard parking. For these violations, the MC could only impose penalty.

The MoU does not provide for setting up a committee of councillors by the Mayor to inspect the parking lots.

How can firm lose licence to operate

• As per MoU signed between the MC and the parking firm, the licence to operate parking lots could be cancelled only by additional commissioner or joint commissioner of the MC in case of adverse verification of the antecedents of the licensee.
• The licence can be cancelled if it is found at any stage that the licensee is a defaulter of the MC.
• The firm can lose licence in case it violates the terms of the contract five times. These violations include overcharging, non-issuance of parking slips, commercial activities in the parking areas and non-availability of e-ticketing machines.