Now, get occupancy info at paid parking lots in Chandigarh before entry

Sandeep Rana

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 7

After the Municipal Corporation (MC) pulled up paid parking lot contractors and gave them a week to introduce smart features at the facilities, the latter have started doing the needful.

Screens have been put up at the entrance to several facilities, displaying the live occupancy of parking space. The screens are displaying the occupancy of spaces for two-wheeler, four-wheeler, tourist bus and cab/taxi/three-wheeler. Earlier, screens were put up at a few lots, but remained non-functional.

As per a senior MC official, 80 of the total paid 89 parking lots have put up functional screens. The nine remaining parking spaces are not working at present.

Parking rates

As per the parking contract, if the smart features are introduced, rates will be charged on an hourly basis, i.e. these will be doubled every four hours. At present, Rs12 and Rs6 is the fee for four-wheelers and two-wheelers, respectively, for full day at all paid parking lots, except those outside city malls. The rates are to be increased by 20 per cent per year, according to the contract.

The screens help visitors get an idea about how much space is available inside the parking lot before entering it. In case the space is not available, they could move to the neighbouring parking lot.

However, it is yet to be seen how attendants are going to implement it on the ground as some parking lots, especially in sectors 17, 22 and 35, are always overcrowded.

MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra said, “I have got all security people briefed and trained again. I have ordered that all personnel be given whistles and extra manpower be deployed in addition to those at the entry/exit points to manage the internal areas of parking lots. Also, a WhatsApp group has been created so that people not abiding by the parking rules are immediately challaned by the police.”

The MC Commissioner had given the parking contractors a week’s deadline for implementing all smart parking features. These features will be verified by an MC team on the ground this week following which further action will be taken. Earlier, the UT Adviser and later the General House of the MC had raised the issue of non-implementation of smart features.