The Times of India 19.04.2013
Illegal parking fee collection causing losses to Guwahati Municipal Corporation
GUWAHATI: The illegal collection of parking fee from various roadside parking lots under the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) since April 1 has caused the GMC exchequer a loss of several thousands of rupees.
Though the roadside parking lots in the city are under the GMC, the corporation had leased 40 of these parking lots last year. But even after completion of the one-year term on March 31, lessees are charging parking fee at various parking lots.
"After completion of the one-year lease, the lessees should have stopped collecting the fee, which was instead to be collected by the GMC from April 1. However, the lessees are still collecting parking fee illegally," said a GMC official.
During the Rongali Bihu season, people in large numbers visited the city and the lessees could, therefore, collect a good amount of money. The lessees were able to make a huge profit only due to the laziness of the enforcement officials of the GMC.
An enforcement official of the GMC said they are searching for the lessees, who are collecting parking fee illegally since April 1. After TOI apprised the GMC about the illegal collection of parking fee, GMC authorities assured to take a tough stand on the matter. Additional commissioner of the GMC, Mukul Gogoi told TOI that the GMC will issue an order asking the lessees to hand over the money collected as parking fee from the public since April 1. Gogoi said the GMC is going to reorganize the parking areas in the city.
"We want to bring down the number of parking lots in the city so that the lessees can be made more accountable. The process to hand over 35 parking lots in the city to lessees is on," he added.
Though the roadside parking lots in the city are under the GMC, the corporation had leased 40 of these parking lots last year. But even after completion of the one-year term on March 31, lessees are charging parking fee at various parking lots.
"After completion of the one-year lease, the lessees should have stopped collecting the fee, which was instead to be collected by the GMC from April 1. However, the lessees are still collecting parking fee illegally," said a GMC official.
During the Rongali Bihu season, people in large numbers visited the city and the lessees could, therefore, collect a good amount of money. The lessees were able to make a huge profit only due to the laziness of the enforcement officials of the GMC.
An enforcement official of the GMC said they are searching for the lessees, who are collecting parking fee illegally since April 1. After TOI apprised the GMC about the illegal collection of parking fee, GMC authorities assured to take a tough stand on the matter. Additional commissioner of the GMC, Mukul Gogoi told TOI that the GMC will issue an order asking the lessees to hand over the money collected as parking fee from the public since April 1. Gogoi said the GMC is going to reorganize the parking areas in the city.
"We want to bring down the number of parking lots in the city so that the lessees can be made more accountable. The process to hand over 35 parking lots in the city to lessees is on," he added.
