Confusion over different parking rates

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26

Different parking rates in the city have left residents and even councillors confused.

The contractor started charging rates on an hourly basis at the Sector 17 Sahib Singh and Empire parking lots from today.

Two-wheeler riders will be charged Rs 2 and motorists Rs 5 for the first four hours at these two parking lots. At Elante, Piccadily and Fun Republic, Rs 5 and Rs 10 are being charged for two-wheelers and cars.       

The remaining parking lots charge Rs 2 (bikes) and Rs 5 (cars). However, at Sector 35-B, a worker said they were charging on an hourly basis after the first 

four hours, which was against the proposal passed by the MC House.

“Even we councillors did not know that the charges were different. We spoke to Joint Commissioner Manoj Khatri, who told us that the existing rates were being charged. But who knows what the existing rates are. I have asked for records and will take up the issue in the House meeting,” said Shakti Prakash Devshali.

 He, along with councillors Jagtar Singh Jagga and Vinod Aggarwal, had gone to Fun Republic. There, they were charged Rs 10.Sandeep Gora, project coordinator of the company managing 26 parking lots in Chandigarh, said, “We are supposed to charge the existing rates for the first three months. Some parking lots have different rates.”

Mayor Asha Kumari Jaswal said, “We had decided that the existing rates will be charged for the first three months. In malls, the rates are different.”

The residents said there was no clarity. “What if we are being fleeced? How to find it out? The MC should do something about it and end the confusion,” said Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 27.  A Sector 38 (West) resident SR Singal, who has a scooter, said he was charged Rs 10 at the ISBT, Sector 43.