Fleecing on, right under dist admn’s nose

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 10

Visitors have hardly got any relief from overcharging at the multi-level parking lot of the mini-secretariat on Ferozepur Road, Ludhiana, even during Captain Amarinder Singh’s tenure.

The fleecing of visitors is going on in broad daylight at a parking lot that is located just a stone’s throw away from the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The prescribed parking fee for two-wheeler is Rs10 and for four-wheeler Rs20 at the parking site from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. The contractor is supposed to issue a ticket with a machine, but he is issuing manual tickets.

The parking ticket shows Rs11.80 as fee, including Rs1.80 as 18 per cent GST, for parking two-wheelers, but visitors are asked to pay Rs15. Besides, four-wheelers are asked to pay Rs30.

Visitors asked as to why GST was being charged from them on prescribed parking fee. They asked the authorities to make it clear if it was included in the terms and conditions that they will have to pay 18 per cent GST with fixed parking fee.

A visitor said: “I gave them Rs12 for parking my scooter after reading Rs11.80 on the slip issued to me, but the parking staff refused to accept Rs12. They asked me to pay Rs15. It is sheer harassment. It seems they have no fear of the district administration. If Rs10 is fixed parking fee for a two-wheeler, then why are the visitors being charged extra for GST?”

Advocate Gaganpreet Singh said: “Visitors generally complain about overcharging at the multi-level parking of the mini-secretariat. The government should instruct the authorities to make sure that the visitors are not fleeced. A strict action should be taken in this regard.”

Contractor Khokhar and Co, however, denied the allegations. They claimed that they were not violating any law.

Zila Nazar at the mini-secretariat, Kuldeep Singh, said: “We will look into the overcharging complaints at the parking lot. The contractor is supposed to issue ticket with machines. We have no information whether this contractor has paid the GST. However, the previous contractor had not paid it last year and he was blacklisted.”

Assistant Commissioner (General) Poonam Preet Kaur said she would look into the matter.