June 8: The city corporation has decided to regulate 180 private parking lots by issuing trade licences in the wake of complaints regarding fleecing of motorists who use the facilities. The Mayor, M. Subramanian, had announced the proposal to regulate private parking lots in the council meet last year. “We have identified 180 such parking lots in the city,” a senior corporation official said.

As per the proposal, the private parking lots should obtain trade licences from the corporation and a no-objection certificate from the police. Motorists as well as elected representatives have been complaining to the civic body about the exorbitant charge imposed by the private parking lots.

The issue came to fore after a two-wheeler parking lot near the Nungambakkam railway station had encroached upon two streets in the area and started collecting as much as Rs 25 per day from two-wheeler owners as charge.

“With no regulation in place, they are charging exorbitant amount as fee,” said a source. “Hence we have also decided to fix a charge for the parking lots.” Sources said that the corporation is also examining the issue of motorists facing trouble while claiming insurance in case of vehicles going missing from parking lots.

“We do not know who will be responsible if the vehicles are lost as the parking lots are not taking responsibility of keeping them safely,” an official said. “After framing rules and regulations, we will table the resolution to this effect in the forthcoming council meet.” Mr N. Pandian, a government employee, said that the corporation should also fix parking charges for the shopping malls in the city as they are collecting as much as Rs 10 per hour for a two-wheeler. “In the weekends, they are charging even more,” he said.