Hyderabad: Many city restaurants offering valet parking are violating traffic rules, due to which customers are slapped with e-challans. In a recent incident, a resident of Hyderabad received an e-challan for ‘stopping on the carriage way’, which might have happened after he gave his car for valet parking at a restaurant in Banjara Hills.
This is not the first time a city resident has got an e-challan for giving his vehicle for valet parking at the restuaruant. The restaurant might not be having permission from the traffic police to pick up and drop cars for valet parking, from the hotel, and hence the e-challan.
In 2016, as many as 1,908 cases were booked for illegal parkings near bars and restaurants whereas 277 cases were booked up to April 2017. For stopping on the carriageway, 2,170 cases were booked in 2016 whereas 5,149 cases came up this year till April 2017. This shows a steep rise in challans against violations like stopping on the carriage way, as compared to the previous year.
Ravi Kiran Chanda, a resident of Hyderabad, said, “I went to a famous restaurant in Banjara Hills for lunch a few days ago, where I gave my car for valet parking. Later I got an e-challan from traffic police for violation of traffic laws by ‘stopping on the carriageway’, and the parking challan shows that the valet parking guy from the restaurant was getting out of my car when returning it.’’
Ravi added, “The management may not have permission from traffic police to pick up and drop cars for valet parking from the restaurant. Also why don’t the traffic police stop restaurants from using the carriage area instead placing cameras and raising challans on customers?’’
Kranti David, a city resident who had a similar experience said, “I took it to the notice of the restaurant management and they asked me to show the receipt of the chalan payment and said they would adjust the same amount in our next bill.’’
Dr Ravinder, Joint Commissioner Hyderabad traffic police, said, “When we give permission to the restaurants, we see whether enough space is provided by the hotel. If they have enough capacity for parking, then they have to make necessary arrangements. If vehicles block the carriageway, challans will follow.’’
“I agree, if the restaurant doesn’t have enough space and still encourage more people there, then it’s the management’s mistake and also when the customers are giving their vehicles for valet parking, and if there is no space for parking, then they should tell the customers clearly that they should come after sometime.”
As and when we are booking e-challans, we would not know whether the vehicle belonged to the customers or to the restaurant. So, in such cases, it’s the responsibility of the management as well as the customer to park the vehicle in proper parking place.’’
Hyderabad traffic police suggests citizens report such parking issues to them. Residents can post their complaints on Hyderabad Traffic Police’s facebook page, or call them on traffic helpline number 27852471, 27852482, 9490598 985 and 9010203626 or write a mail to E-challan department to hyd_echallan@hyd.tspolice.gov.in.
