Hyderabad: Despite over 15 parking related complaints reported everyday, the guidelines regarding the right of people to park vehicles have not been made public by either the GHMC or the Hyderabad Traffic Police.
As per the rules, it is unauthorised to park in a space owned or run by an individual, at the same time one can’t park on government land or road. There is no redressal system in GHMC to accept complaints on parking nor do they forward it to the city traffic police. The parking contract signed with GHMC clearly states that a contractor is not responsible for any damage; the parking fee is only for the space occupied to park vehicles.
North zone Traffic DCP L.S. Chauhan said, “Section 39 (B) of the City Police Act states that nobody can occupy a public road or space for parking including those owning or running establishments. If government land or road is occupied for parking, the traffic police and even law and order officials have the power to book a case. In case it is a repeated offence, regular sections of IPC can be initiated for trespassing on public space, action will be taken as per the provision of the section.” Cyberabad Traffic DCP Avinash Mohanti added, “The GHMC is authorised to approve vendors for parking maintenance, while the traffic police has the power to allot space which can be used for parking. Every official parking lot must be approved by GHMC.”
“Every commercial building must allocate 60 per cent for parking. However, this is being ignored as many basements are being turned into commercial shops. This is the reason vehicles are forced to be parked on roads,” he added.
A GHMC Traffic and Roads wing official said, “The municipal body is not responsible for any damage, theft of vehicles parked or stationed in a space allocated to the contractor.”
In the case of private parking at malls or hotels, very few contractors take the responsibility of vehicles and many hotels put up boards stating that the management is not responsible for any damage and that the owners park their vehicles at their own risk.
Illegal spaces charge high fee
Hyderabad has only 52, GHMC-approved parking lots other than the private ones that are “illegal”, says the municipal corporation that is faced with a swarm of extortion complaints.
Troubled motorists say even official parking vendors charge more than the designated fee. As per Clause 15 of the Standard Parking Contract, the lease for parking will be terminated if a contractor charges excess amounts. But that just remains on paper.
C.J. Karira, a resident of Mahendra Hills who filed a complaint with the North Zone GHMC regarding contractors charging extra fees, said, “I had parked my car for less than 30 minutes at RP Road; and as per the contract conditions, the parking charges should have been only Rs 10 for the first hour. However, the lady attendant there charged me Rs 20 and upon questioning, threatened to puncture the tyres of my car. I submitted the receipt where the contractors had printed Rs 20 per hour as proof to the commissioner, but there has been no response.”
“The parking business has become a mafia, being run by contractors in collusion with corrupt GHMC circle officials. These contractors are henchmen of local politicians,” he says.
He said, “On RP Road, the parking contract is given for less than Rs 2 lakh per year. I have noticed that on any given day the estimated income will be Rs 25,000; The problem of overcharging can be solved if the government and GHMC change the operation mode with the help of new technology. A simple app will help the state collect full revenue, and even help people find empty spaces.”
