GCC robs people of high parking costs

Time of India

9 hours ago

Chennai: Despite Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) warning TEXCO for charging exorbitant parking costs, the latter's staff continue to fleece residents—up to six times the original parking cost of 20.
After TOI broke a story in April on how the Tamil Nadu ex-servicemen corporation (TEXCO) was collecting money from residents even without a formal tender or contract being in place, the GCC formalised an agreement with TEXCO. They restricted the firm's ambit to just ten locations at flat rates of 20 per hour for cars, 5 for bikes, and 60 for heavy vehicles. The GCC also ordered TEXCO to stop collecting cash and handed them POS devices with QR code facilities.
Two months later, staff continue to charge up to 120 for just two hours—and in cash. According to bills accessed by TOI, one dated June 25 at a location in T Nagar stated the charge was 30 per hour. The person had parked for two hours, yet the final amount on the bill was 120. While the 30 per hour itself was illegal, the resident ended up being charged six times the approved rate. In another bill from June 9, one hour of parking was shown to cost 60, three times the prescribed charge.
Clueless residents, eager to get out of congested parking spots, paid without protest. "The staff said if I pay by cash, it's 40, whereas if I pay online, it is 60. I ended up paying online. The money went to an Indian bank account linked to GCC," said one motorist.
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TEXCO was supposed to deploy manpower across 14,000 slots with a daily earning potential of 11 lakh. This meant that from the start of the contract in July until its expiry in December, expected revenue was around 19.8 crore.
But in December 2024, TEXCO officially declared only 1.75 crore. "It is not known if the cash collected by staff was fully accounted for," said civic activist Swadish Bharathi.
Revenue officials explained that although the account is linked to GCC, TEXCO withdraws funds to cover administration, maintenance, and manpower costs, leaving only the net surplus for the civic body. "The parking contract with TEXCO has to be abolished. I will take it up with the commissioner and also raise it in the council. These complaints cannot be recurring," said Deputy mayor Mahesh Kumar.