Parking lot staff manhandled me, alleges Ludhiana resident

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 22

A city resident has accused the private contractor staff of overcharging parking fees and manhandling him at the multi-storey parking lot (under district administration) at Mini Secretariat on Ferozepur Road here. The parking lot is located just near the offices of the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

The city resident, Rahul Verma, who is a road safety activist, gave a complaint to the police against the parking staff. He alleged that the parking staff overcharged fee from him. He also alleged that when he questioned about the prescribed parking fee, the staff “manhandled” him.

Verma said, “I had parked my car at the multi-storey parking lot at the Mini Secretariat today. They charged Rs 50 from me for parking my car. When I questioned that what actual fee has been fixed by the administration, they manhandled me. I then went to the Nazar branch of the district administration to know the actual parking fee. The staff informed that the parking fee is Rs 10 for a two-wheeler and Rs 20 for a four-wheeler. I have filed a complaint to the police against the private contractor staff for overcharging and manhandling.”

Sources said the users are commonly forced to pay more than the prescribed parking fee at various parking lots under the district administration, Municipal Corporation, Mandi Board and others as there is no check on the violations.

A senior Congress leader and Punjab Medium Industrial Development Board (PMIDB) Chairman, Amarjit Singh Tikka, said, “It has come to my notice too that the visitors are being overcharged at some parking lots under various departments, including the MC, district administration and Zila Parishad. I will raise the matter before the DC, MC Commissioner and authorities concerned to take strict action against the contractors who are overcharging from the parking users. Such contractors should not be allowed to tarnish the image of the government.”

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