Vigilance arrests parking attendant in Sec 22

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3

UT Vigilance sleuths today arrested an attendant of a parking lot in Sector 22 for overcharging visitors. The accused allegedly charged Rs 5 instead of Rs 2 for a two-wheeler.

Vigilance officials said they had received a complaint that the parking attendants in Sector 22 opposite the ISBT, Sector 17, were overcharging people. “We laid a trap and arrested a parking attendant, Ram Singh, while overcharging,” said Maneesh Chaudhary, SSP (Traffic/Security) and in charge of the Vigilance cell. Chaudhary said the role of government officials would also be investigated. “The role of Municipal Corporation (MC) employees will be probed and, if found guilty, action would be taken against them,” he said.

Chaudhary said the amount overcharged from each person seemed low. However, several thousand vehicles visit the parking every day and if the attendant overcharges each visitor, the amount runs into thousands daily and several lakhs every month.

Vigilance sleuths said parking contractors across the city were under the scanner and more traps would be laid following complaints of overcharging.

The Vigilance Department had recently submitted a report on overcharging and other violations by the paid parking lot contractor of the Elante Mall and had recommended departmental action against four MC officials, including Additional Commissioner Sarita Malik, an HCS officer.

The UT Vigilance Department, in its inquiry report submitted to UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev, has recommended suitable departmental action against MC Additional Commissioner Sarita Malik, Enforcement Superintendent Kashmira Singh, Inspector (Enforcement Staff) Sunil Kumar and Sub-Inspector (Enforcement Staff) Darshan Pal Singh. This year, six traps have been laid by the Chandigarh Vigilance Department and 24 inquires have been initiated.