Declared free for use, SoBo parking lots still charging motorists
Mumbai: Days after nine parking lots in south Mumbai were declared free for public use following the expiry of their contracts, several motorists find themselves being charged at the sites.
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A check at six of these parking spots by TOI revealed that four are still collecting parking fees from unsuspecting drivers.
At Walchand Hirachand Marg in Ballard Estate (the stretch between Grand Hotel & Scindia House), motorists are being charged Rs 50 an hour. At Ramjibhai Kamani Marg and Nagindas Master Lane, the rate is Rs 70 per hour. Horniman Circle (between V N Road and Homji Street) too had fee collectors asking for Rs 70 an hour.
Parking at Badruddin Tyabji Marg and Dorabji Tata Marg is, however, free.
"This is ridiculous. I parked near Horniman Circle thinking it was free, and then a person shows up and asks for Rs 140 for 2 hours," a motorist who drives to Fort daily said.
Angered over having been charged Rs 140 for 2 hours of parking near Horniman Circle, a motorist said, "There was no board, no clarity. Just a random person demanding that I pay." Another motorist said, "I paid Rs 70 at Nagindas Master Lane yesterday (Sunday).
There was a person who said he was authorised to collect it. I had no way to verify, and I was in a rush."
When contacted, a senior BMC official said, "Generally, after the surrender of a site, we send an intimation to the police station concerned and traffic division to keep the location under watch. However, considering the concern raised today about illegal fee collection, we will send a fresh reminder to them tomorrow."
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The official added the 3-month extension for these sites lapsed on May 31, and in the interim, motorists were not supposed to be charged. "We are in the process of appointing a new agencies either for a 3-month period or a fresh two-year contract through the office of the deputy chief engineer (traffic). These sites are temporarily free until then," he said.
Former Colaba corporator Makrand Narwekar slammed the situation.
"The ward where all these parking lots are located is a high footfall area with many tourists and heritage sites. For too long, motorists have suffered due to the unholy nexus between officials and contractors. It's unacceptable that people are being asked to pay for services that have no legal backing," he said.
On May 6, after receiving numerous complaints from residents, Narwekar wrote to the municipal commissioner demanding that pay-and-park facilities be made free once the existing parking contracts expire. "The civic body was taking action against engineers and had conducted sting operations to expose overcharging. If those allegations were true, then why is BMC allowing these illegal operations to continue?" he said.
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