Residents find parking lots not ‘smart’

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 17

Public has found parking lots ‘not smart’ while pointing out various shortcomings and discrepancies in a feedback conducted by Arya Toll Infra Ltd, the firm allotted the contract to run 25 paid facilities in the city.

According to the firm, over 1,100 motorists filled the feedback form on Monday and Tuesday. Around 20 per cent of them found basic amenities missing. They found illumination inadequate, roads broken and water accumulated inside parking lots. These are the issues that the Municipal Corporation needed to resolve.

While around 70 per cent people found problems with the facilities being offered by the company in the ‘smart parking lots’. Too small entry points, no online booking option, change not available and no visible space — these were among shortcomings noticed by those using parking lots.

This is for the first time that public’s direct feedback came to light on smart parking lots after the charges were doubled for the second time in four months.

Traders, opposition parties, councillors, the Mayor, the local MP and other organisations have already voiced their anger against the parking fee hike.

Baljinder Singh Bittu, chairman, Federation of Sectors Welfare Associations of Chandigarh (FOSWAC), said, “There are no facilities inside parking lots and only the rates have been doubled. It is entry tax. I have been saying this from day one and the public feedback has corroborated it.”

Firm wants MC to fix issues in 17 parking lots

A day after the MC House resolved to roll back the parking fee hike, the company has prepared a list of 17 parking lots where the corporation has to carry out works.

“In the feedback, 20 per cent people have asked for improvement in basic facilities like lighting and roads. There are street vendors inside Shastri Market and mobile market at parking lots in Sector 22. While around 80 per cent lots in Sector 34 remain dark in the evening for want of lights,” said Sandeep Bhora, company coordinator. He added, “We are ready to pay licence fee installment in advance, but the corporation should improve things at 17 lots.”

MC Joint Commissioner TS Saini, who signed the authority letter for the rate revision, did not respond to the phone calls made to him for his comments.

Mayor Davesh Moudgil said, “The company, in the last meeting, had highlighted only presence of street vendors in Sector 22. How come they suddenly have issues with 17 lots? If their concern was valid, then action should be taken against the officials concerned.”