Mumbai firm walks away with parking contract

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 26

The local Municipal Corporation today awarded the contract of managing 25 parking lots and the multi-level parking in Sector 17 to a Mumbai-based company, Arya Toll Infra Ltd. 

The company bagged the contract after it quoted Rs 14.78 crore in a sealed bid. The other company in the race -- Delhi-based SA Parking Service -- quoted Rs 8.2 crore price. The reserve price for the parking contract was Rs 4 crore.

Three days ago, two companies had filed the same e-bids of Rs 7.96 crore for managing the parking lots, forcing the MC to write to them to file sealed bids. The contracts of 23 of the 26 parking lots have not been given to any contractor for over a year, causing a loss of nearly Rs 5 crore to the civic body. 

The parking lots remained open for all as the civic body failed to finalise the contractor for managing these. And when the process of hiring was started, the matter was taken to the court by one of the companies, which was in the race for the contract.   

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on May 22, dismissed the petition challenging the process of allotting 25 parking lots through the e-tender process following which, the MC asked the two firms to file e-bids.  

‘Solid arrangements’

“We have provided smart parking to residents and it will also increase the revenue of the civic body. There will be no botheration of contractors running away every now and then. We have made solid arrangements this time,” said BJP councillor and former Mayor Arun Sood. The Congress said the hike in parking rates was burden on residents.

Paid parking to start in 10 days

The paid parking is expected to start within 10 days.  For a three-month period, the public will pay the existing rates -- Rs 2 for two-wheelers and Rs 5 for four-wheelers.  Confirming the development, Joint Commissioner Manoj Khatri said in a week or 10 days, the paid parking was expected to be operational.   

Pay more 

For the current financial year, for two-wheelers, the civic body has increased the rate from Rs 2 (full day) to Rs 5 for the first four hours and Rs 5 for the subsequent two hours, which will go up to Rs 25, for parking in the paid lots. 

For 2018-19, the MC House resolved to increase the rate of two-wheeler parking from Rs 5 for the first four hours to Rs 10 and Rs 10 for the subsequent two hours.

Similarly, for four-wheeler, the rate for the current financial year has been increased from Rs 5 (full day) to Rs 10 for the first four hours and Rs 10 for the subsequent two hours, which will go up to Rs 50 for 10 hours and above. For 2018-19, the rate will be further hiked from Rs 10 to Rs 20 for the first four hours and Rs 20 for the subsequent two hours. 

Rates of monthly passes

Monthly pass for two-wheelers in single parking Rs 150
Monthly pass for four-wheelers in single parking Rs 300

Hike after 15 years

On February 28, the MC had passed the agenda of increasing parking charges in the city. The charges were raised after 15 years. In 2002, the MC had introduced paid parking and had fixed Rs 2 for two-wheelers and Rs 5 for four-wheelers.

Parking features 

Under the smart parking system, there will be a central server of CCTVs and e-ticketing machines at the MC office from where the staff will keep an eye on attendants. 

Lots lying unattended

Empire Store parking, Sec 17

Sahib Singh parking, Sec 17

CMC parking, Sec 17

Jagat and Anand parking, Sec 17

Parking opposite RLA office, Sec 17

Bank Square parking, Sector 17

MOH parking, Sector 17

Sector 35

Two parking lots in Sector 22

Shanti Kunj parking, Sector 16

Several parking lots on Madhya Marg