Haphazard parking in Chandigarh: Contractor fined Rs 20K

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has imposed a fine on a contractor for his failure to manage parking lots as per the contract agreement.

“Vehicles were found parked in haphazard manner at the Mobile Market in Sector 22 and Sahib Singh parking lot in Sector 17. A challan to the tune of Rs 20,000 was issued to the contractor,” said MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra.

The MC had given a week’s deadline to the parking contractors to adhere to all mandatory provisions of their contract. A team of MC officials were deputed by the Commissioner to inspect all 89 parking lots and submit the report on the compliance.

According to the report submitted to the Commissioner, haphazard parking and lack of attendants were found at many parking lots.

The report found haphazard parking in the evening at major parking sites. At major parking lots such as Elante, Sukhna Lake, Sector 35-B & C, 43, 20, 22, 26 and the MOH and Sahib Singh in Sector 17, staff was deployed inside the facility but they were without whistles and sticks. In small parking lots, no staff was deployed, the inspection team had reported. The report mentioned that improvement was needed with regard to parking kiosks, barricades, cones and chains put up at the parking lots. However, the report pointed out that several other smart features mentioned in the contract were in place.

Two parking contractors, who manage 89 sites, had complied with most of the basic parking features such as e-ticketing, LED display, e-payment, staff wearing uniform at most sites and boom barrier (at required sites), it added.

The UT Adviser had earlier raised the issue. Later, the Opposition in the MC General House had also raked up the issue of smart features not having been introduced. Mitra then tightened the noose around contractors and gave them a week to implement features.

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