Among UTs, parking fee 2nd highest in city

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7

Chandigarh has the second highest parking rates among UTs. The charges are highest in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The local Municipal Corporation had doubled the charges at 25 paid parking lots on April 1, making Chandigarh the second most expensive UT in India when it came to parking of vehicles. The rates have doubled twice in four months — the last revision enforced in December — even as there is not much improvement in facilities provided at the parking lots.

The firm awarded the contract of the parking lots, Arya Toll Infra Ltd, charges Rs 10 and Rs 20 for two and four-wheelers, respectively, for the first four hours. The same amount is added for every two hours subsequently. Charges are double at the parking lots of Elante, Fun Republic and Piccadilly malls.

As per the information available, Rs 5 and Rs 10 are charged for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, respectively, for full day parking in Puducherry. In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the rates are Rs 5 and Rs 25, respectively, for full day. In Daman & Diu, no fee is charged for parking of two-wheelers and Rs 20-40 is charged for four-wheelers for full day parking. 

Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have no parking charges.

However, in Delhi, which has far more vehicular traffic and lesser parking space compared to Chandigarh, the parking rates for two-wheelers and four-wheelers are Rs 10 and Rs 20 per hour, respectively, in all three municipal corporations of South, North and East Delhi.

Even though the local MC is drawing flak from all quarters for high parking charges, it does not care two hoots about the common man’s concern.

“It is not parking fee. It is an entry tax, which people are forced to pay. Parking charges are not this high in any UT. While Delhi is a big city and has huge infrastructure, we cannot compare the charges there with those in Chandigarh. The recent hike in parking rates must be rolled back. Residents here are being fleeced,” commented Baljinder Singh Bittu, chairman, Federation of Sectors Welfare Associations of Chandigarh (FOSWAC).

Charanjiv Singh, nominated councillor and chairman of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, said, “We will raise the issue in the House as well as on roads. Exorbitant rates must be rolled back as it is a huge burden on people.”

MC Commissioner Jitender Yadav and Joint Commissioner TS Saini, who heads the parking wing of the civic body, have maintained that the rates were revised as per the MoU, which was passed by the MC House last year, entered into with the firm.

Mayor Davesh Moudgil said since smart parking directives have not been implemented, the rates should not have been raised. He would bring the agenda in this regard in the House meet likely to be held in middle of this month.