Parking fee not uniform, officials fail check those violating rules
While the actual fee for parking two-wheelers is Rs 5 and Rs 10 for four-wheelers for the first two hours, contractors in up-market areas are collecting as much as Rs 50 for four-wheelers. (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: Following criticism from media and social activists, GHMC has installed parking fee boards at officially allotted sites in the twin cities. However, there is no uniformity in the fees collected.
While the actual fee for parking two-wheelers is Rs 5 and Rs 10 for four-wheelers for the first two hours, contractors in up-market areas are collecting as much as Rs 50 for four-wheelers. Meanwhile, the GHMC does not have enough manpower to check on the contractors who violate the terms of their licences.
“The fee collectors are goons, and people are scared of questioning them. At many places, the board reads ‘GHMC paid parking for 2 & 4 wheelers’ but the rates have been erased. The
receipts do not have exact parking timings or the name of the contractor. It is mostly torn and stuck on the vehicle,” said Rohan Joseph, a motorist.
On Mahatma Gandhi Road, the charge for a four-wheeler is Rs 40 an hour while at Park Lane, which is part of the same road, it is Rs 20.
Secunderabad has the maximum number of parking lots, around 25. Parking charges at places like Khairatabad, Nampally, Kacheguda, Panjagutta and Ame-erpet are not uniform.
Charges again vary at cinema theatres, malls, and major bus stations.
“The municipal corporation must put up boards stating that the site officially belongs to the GHMC, and install its own parking meters so that the correct time and rate is recorded. It must also monitor contractors every month. The parking fee must be clearly indicated at every location to stop the public being fleecing,” said Vani Prasad, resident of Nampally and a social activist.
In 2013, the deputy commissioner of Circle 10 had booked a case against a contractor near GVK Mall for charging Rs 50 an hour for a four-wheeler. Another contractor was terminated for charging double at the Golconda Fort. However, since then, no cases have been booked, and no inspections done.
Tenders are called every July since parking contracts are decided in August. Bids start from Rs 7 lakh and go up to Rs 15 lakh a year.
“Many contractors were found charging for areas which do not come under paid parking. This year, the contractors will be told to mark the parking area, issue receipts with the contractor’s name and to display boards showing the fees,” said a GHMC official.
Violators earn thousands a day by simply installing fee boards, print tickets and collect parking fees much higher than the GHMC’s prescribed amount.
This is the norm in most commercial areas like Ameerpet, Abids, RTC crossroads and Narayanguda. While there is no monthly or half-yearly assessment, there is also no way for citizens to identify if the contractor has a valid licence or not.
RTI activist C.J. Karira, explained, “Tenders are never issued with proper public notices and are allotted on nomination basis with bids being very low as the contractors have to pay heavy kickbacks to the GHMC circle head. For example, a contract is given for as low as Rs 8,000 (per month) for a parking site at Rastrapati Road when the contractor earns Rs 5,000 every
day.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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