The Times of India 25.05.2010
2-wheeler parking on roads is now free
PUNE: You need not pay for parking your two-wheeler on the road from Tuesday.
Buckling under pressure from civic groups and citizens, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has withdrawn the pay-and-park scheme for twowheelers with effect from Tuesday. Following a heated debate in the general body (GB) meeting on Monday, mayor Mohansingh Rajpal announced : “From Tuesday, no two-wheeler owner should be charged for parking his vehicle in the parking plots on roads.” Speaking with reporters later, Rajpal said, “About 80 per cent citizens, especially middle class use twowheelers . We don’t want to burden them.”
A few months ago, the PMC had launched the scheme on major roads in the city stating that it was necessary to inculcate better traffic sense among motorists. Private contractors were roped in to collect parking fees. The scheme came under scrutiny at the general body meeting with corporators accusing the contractors of ‘extorting’ money from citizens.
Civic groups alleged that the contractors appointed goons to collect money who at times over-charged and even misbehaved with the vehicle owners. Unruly behaviour, rough handling of vehicles and altercations have become the norm since then. The civic groups pointed out that onmost occasions, women and girls were at the receiving end of such goons who misbehaved with them. Also, at many parking plots, excess fees was being charged and no receipts are given. Many contractors issued their personal receipts which did not bear PMC stamp.
Corporator Ujwal Keskar, Anil Shirole, Arun Dhimdhime and Arvind Shinde were at the forefront demanding the civic administration to immediately withdrew the scheme.
“The GB had earlier asked the administration to withdraw the scheme, but still the administration did not wake up,” said Keskar. Arvind Shinde and Arun Dhimdhime said the contractors were using the scheme for all wrong purposes.
Traffic planner Srinivas Bonala said, “The civic administration has not given any new contract after the GB resolution . However, the contractors given contract prior to GB resolution have continued to charge parking fees.” All party corporators insisted that the mayor should tell the administration to scrap all such contracts . This demand was accepted by Rajpal on Monday.
The civic administration had launched the scheme stating that it was necessary to inculcate better traffic sense among motorists. The BPMC Act allows the civic body to implement such schemes and collect fine for illegal parking. The PMC administration had stated that it wants to adopt a two-pronged strategy of introducing more pay-and-park schemes and increase the frequency of public transport buses, in order to reduce use of personal vehicles and also solve the problem of parking vehicles.
No decision yet on free parking at malls
The general body, however, deferred a decision on free parking at malls and multiplexes. The proposal was sent to the municipal commissioner for his remarks.
The City Improvement Committee (CIC) of the PMC has approved a proposal making parking at malls and multiplexes free of cost. The proposal also seeks action against owners of establishments who charge customers for parking their vehicles. The proposal was mooted at a meeting of CIC members that includes Kiran Bartakke, Rajendra Godre and Prithviraj Sutar.
Notably, these establishments are supposed to provide free parking as they were given extra FSI for building parking lots at the time of construction. The FSI is a ratio of the total floor area of the building on a certain location to the size of the land in that location or the limit imposed on such a ratio.
Buckling under pressure from civic groups and citizens, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has withdrawn the pay-and-park scheme for twowheelers with effect from Tuesday. Following a heated debate in the general body (GB) meeting on Monday, mayor Mohansingh Rajpal announced : “From Tuesday, no two-wheeler owner should be charged for parking his vehicle in the parking plots on roads.” Speaking with reporters later, Rajpal said, “About 80 per cent citizens, especially middle class use twowheelers . We don’t want to burden them.”
A few months ago, the PMC had launched the scheme on major roads in the city stating that it was necessary to inculcate better traffic sense among motorists. Private contractors were roped in to collect parking fees. The scheme came under scrutiny at the general body meeting with corporators accusing the contractors of ‘extorting’ money from citizens.
Civic groups alleged that the contractors appointed goons to collect money who at times over-charged and even misbehaved with the vehicle owners. Unruly behaviour, rough handling of vehicles and altercations have become the norm since then. The civic groups pointed out that onmost occasions, women and girls were at the receiving end of such goons who misbehaved with them. Also, at many parking plots, excess fees was being charged and no receipts are given. Many contractors issued their personal receipts which did not bear PMC stamp.
Corporator Ujwal Keskar, Anil Shirole, Arun Dhimdhime and Arvind Shinde were at the forefront demanding the civic administration to immediately withdrew the scheme.
“The GB had earlier asked the administration to withdraw the scheme, but still the administration did not wake up,” said Keskar. Arvind Shinde and Arun Dhimdhime said the contractors were using the scheme for all wrong purposes.
Traffic planner Srinivas Bonala said, “The civic administration has not given any new contract after the GB resolution . However, the contractors given contract prior to GB resolution have continued to charge parking fees.” All party corporators insisted that the mayor should tell the administration to scrap all such contracts . This demand was accepted by Rajpal on Monday.
The civic administration had launched the scheme stating that it was necessary to inculcate better traffic sense among motorists. The BPMC Act allows the civic body to implement such schemes and collect fine for illegal parking. The PMC administration had stated that it wants to adopt a two-pronged strategy of introducing more pay-and-park schemes and increase the frequency of public transport buses, in order to reduce use of personal vehicles and also solve the problem of parking vehicles.
No decision yet on free parking at malls
The general body, however, deferred a decision on free parking at malls and multiplexes. The proposal was sent to the municipal commissioner for his remarks.
The City Improvement Committee (CIC) of the PMC has approved a proposal making parking at malls and multiplexes free of cost. The proposal also seeks action against owners of establishments who charge customers for parking their vehicles. The proposal was mooted at a meeting of CIC members that includes Kiran Bartakke, Rajendra Godre and Prithviraj Sutar.
Notably, these establishments are supposed to provide free parking as they were given extra FSI for building parking lots at the time of construction. The FSI is a ratio of the total floor area of the building on a certain location to the size of the land in that location or the limit imposed on such a ratio.
