Bus stand parking contractor fleecing visitors
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, September 26
Unlike the standard norms followed by parking contractors at public places, including the railway station, civil hospital and various other places where Rs 10 is charged for parking two-wheeler vehicles and Rs 30 for four-wheeler vehicles, the city bus stand parking contractor is charging Rs 20 for two-wheelers and Rs 40 for four-wheeler vehicles for eight hours.
Besides, two and four-wheeler vehicles are entitled to eight-hour parking and after that they have to pay an extra Rs 20 and Rs 40 for the next eight hours. This means bus the stand parking contractor is taking Rs 60 for one day parking of a two-wheeler and Rs 120 from the owner of a four-wheeler.
A number of visitors allege that many a time they have intimated PRTC officials about this problem, but no steps have been taken so far by the officials.
Sukhmander Singh, a visitor, said, “A number of times heated arguments have been witnessed between the contractor and visitors, but PRTC officials have become a mute spectator on the issue.”
Harish Kumar, another visitor, said, “It is not possible for us to give a written complaint to the officials on every visit, because nobody has enough time to follow the procedure of registering complaints to PRTC officials.”
Besides, they don’t want to take make it a personal issue with the contractor, he added.
Panchu, bus stand parking contractor, refuted the allegations of fleecing visitors. He said, “Though I have given the bus stand parking lot to other person, Vijay Kumar, who is currently running the parking lot. We take Rs 20 from 4 am to 8 pm and after that from 8.30 pm to 8 am we took another Rs 20 from visitors,” he added.
On the other hand, temporary contractor Vijay Kumar refuted the allegation and said, “We took Rs 20 for 20 hours and after that stop answering the questions.”
Surender Singh, general manager, said, “I have already given them notice related to fleecing visitors. Besides, I will give directions to officials to put a signboard of Rs 10 for 12 hours for two-wheeler parking charge fees.”
