The Hindu        03.03.2017

Excess fee collection at parking lot irks daily users

A two-wheeler rider waits for getting the receipt of parking fee at the parking lot at Central Bus Stand in Tiruchi on Monday.Photo: B. Velankanni RajB_VELANKANNI RAJ  

Double the fee collected for bicycles, two-wheelers

Excessive fee collection at the two-wheeler parking lot in Central Bus Stand has raised concern among users. The multi-level parking lot, owned by the Tiruchi Corporation, is being maintained and operated by a private contractor. It serves hundreds of commuters, office goers, students and traders of Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Karur.

The vehicle users park their two wheelers at the bus stand before boarding buses to their respective destinations. They would have to pay parking fee for every 24 hours to the contractor for parking the vehicles.

As per the board put up by the Tiruchi Corporation, Rs. 3 is charged for bicycles. It is Rs. 5 for two wheelers per day.

The 24-hour period starts from the time of parking. But, this is hardly followed by those employed by the contractor at the parking lot. They collect Rs. 10 for two-wheelers per day. As far as bicycles are concerned, the question does arise as the parking lot hardly receives bicycles.

In addition to it, against the rules and regulations stipulated by the Corporation, the staff manning the lot force the users to pay Rs. 10 more if they fail to remove their respective two wheelers before 12.30 a.m. To the surprise of many, the fee collectors issue receipt for collecting Rs. 10 a day.

“We pay double the amount that has been stated on the display board, hardly visible to many. No one can question them for collecting the excess fee. If we raise questions, we will be landing in trouble as they abuse us,” K. Karthick of Palakkarai, a regular user of the two-wheeler parking stand said.

V. Gowthaman of Karur, another regular user said that he had seen many altercations and fisticuffs between the fee collectors and two-wheeler owners for questioning about the excess charge being collected.

“The fee is exorbitant. We are forced to park our vehicles in the open. There is no safety for our vehicles too,” Mr. Karthick also charged.

S. Pushpavanam, secretary, Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu, said that the issue could not be allowed to go unchecked. There should be a transparent system.

Ensure transparency

The Tiruchi Corporation should take necessary steps to ensure transparency. It should not hesitate to cancel the licence of the contractor if he failed to follow the rules.

Responding to the complaints, Special Officer-cum-Corporation Commissioner N.Ravichandran said he would depute a team of officials to look into the issue and take appropriate action.