Now, parking staff fleecing visitors from other cities

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 18

Visitors, especially those coming from outside like Moga, Chandigarh, Banga among other districts for shopping here, are a harried lot.

Reason: The parking staff of LRY Contractor is charging three times more parking fee than the actual amount at the multi-storey parking lot near Mata Rani Chowk.

Visitors are being charged Rs30 for parking a car against the actual fee of Rs10 at this parking lot located just a stone’s throw away from the MC headquarters.

Sources said the contractor is a relative of a local Congress leader which is why no action is being taken against him. The contractor issued e-tickets to visitors but without mentioning the actual parking fee on the tickets. The MC has directed the contractor to display the fee structure on the iron-made boards of 4x6 sq feet size but smaller boards have been displayed there.

Despite knowing that the contractor used to overcharge from visitors in the past, the MC authorities allowed him to participate in the e-auction process in August 2018, as no officer had taken action against him. Now, visitors are a harried lot, as the civic body has failed to stop this practice.

Avtar Singh of Chandigarh said he parked his car for a few hours at the parking lot, but the staff charged Rs30 from him. He was unaware that the actual parking fee is Rs10. “The civic body should take necessary action to stop fleecing of visitors here. The parking fee should be mentioned on slips,” he said.

Varun from Moga had also parked his car at the multi-storey parking lot on Sunday. He said: “I was also charged Rs30. I often visit here but they always charge Rs30. Overcharging should be stopped.”

It is learnt that the parking staff reads the number plate of vehicles and demand extra parking fee from visitors from outside, as they are unaware about the actual parking fee. Besides, the parking fee is also charged from non-designated parking area.

A resident of Banga town in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district said: “I was also charged Rs30 for parking my car here on Sunday. I was unaware about the actual parking fee. It is the responsibility of the MC authorities to take strict action to stop overcharging here. I have not seen such kind of cheating in our town. The parking staff always charge Rs30 for parking vehicles.”

The multi-storey parking lot has a capacity of 435 four-wheelers and 620 two-wheelers in one go and it generally remains jam-packed. However, the parking staff claim they do not overcharge from anyone. MC Superintendent Manoj Kumar said they would take strict action to stop fleecing of visitors. Joint Commissioner Kulpreet Singh could not be contacted for comments.