Tribune News Service
Bathinda, June 9
Throwing norms to the wind, the two-wheeler parking contractor at the city bus stand is charging visitors parking fee more than the rates stipulated by the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC).
The parking contractor is charging Rs 20 during the daytime from 4 am to 8 pm and Rs 20 for night (8 pm to 8 am), which means a person has to deposit Rs 40 for parking a two-wheeler for one day (24 hours).
Surprisingly, a number of complaints have been registered against the parking contractor at the bus stand police station but authorities have only promised to look into this regard.
It is pertinent to mention that last year when Bathinda Tribune had highlighted the issue, then PRTC general manager Surender Kumar had issued a notice to the parking contractor and had directed him to charge Rs 10 from visitors.
On the other hand, a number of visitors alleged that despite repeated complaints to PRTC officials and the bus stand police station in-charge regarding the exorbitant fees charged by the parking contractor, no concrete steps have been taken by the authorities concerned in this regard.
Hakam Singh, a visitor, said, “Despite paying exorbitant parking fee, their vehicles are no longer safe here. Recently, vehicles were stolen from the parking lot and no recovery has been done till date.”
Kulbir Singh, another visitor, said, “A number of times heated arguments have been witnessed between the contractor and visitors but the authorities concerned have remained a mute spectator on the issue.”
When contacted, Ram Kumar, parking contractor, refuted the allegations. He said, “We charge Rs 20 from 4 am to 8 pm and after that from 8.30 pm to 8 am we take another Rs 20 from visitors.” Kumar avoided answering questions thereafter.
Surender Singh, general manager, PRTC, said, “Owing to the complaints of visitors we have floated a new parking tender in which we have clearly mentioned that Rs 10 will be charged from the two-wheelers.”
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