This story is from August 27, 2014

Extortion in guise of parking fees

Residents are having a hard time parking their vehicles in the city, as many of them have to cough up parking fees even if the spot isn't a designated parking space.
Extortion in guise of parking fees
BHUBANESWAR: Residents are having a hard time parking their vehicles in the city, as many of them have to cough up parking fees even if the spot isn't a designated parking space.
Collecting illegal parking fees from commuters has become routine in the city. Despite the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) claiming to have earmarked as many as 30 parking lots in the city, several unauthorized parking zones are in operation.
Commuters alleged that even if they parked their vehicles outside the area demarcated for parking, goons collect parking fees from them. At times, the commuters complained of being harassed by the fee collectors. "There is no signage at most of the parking lots to let us know that a particular space has been earmarked for parking. Once you park your vehicle, the fee collectors come rushing to ask us to pay the fee. They usually have no proof of identity," rued Srikanta Rout, a commuter.
Sources in BMC said parking lots had been designated at 30 places and spaces demarcated. Ideally, those who don't park their vehicles in the parking lots shouldn't pay the fee. "We have demarcated the area for parking lots. For four wheelers, we charge Rs 10 and for two wheelers Rs 3. If there are illegal parking lots in operation, it is the lookout of the traffic police to punish the men running them," said BMC licensing cell officer Srimanta Mishra.
Sources said illegal parking lots were in operation at several locations in Janpath, Vani Vihar, behind Unit-1 market and Rasulgarh. A BMC official said two roads between AG Square and Rajmahal have been earmarked for parking due to lack of space.
"We have sought permission from the traffic police to use portions of the two roads for parking. If parking is in operation on any other roads, it is illegal," said Mishra. BMC fetched Rs 57 lakh from parking last year. Up to July this year, it has collected nearly Rs 2 lakh, he added.

Traffic ACP Jatindra Kumar Panda said BMC should intimate the police station concerned regarding functioning of illegal parking lots. "We can penalize or book the persons running illegal parking if a case is registered in the police station. If illegal parking is functioning, it is a loss for the BMC," said Panda. He said traffic police squads lift about 50 to 60 vehicles illegally parked every day.
Of the 30 parking lots, 14 have been auctioned and being managed by private parties. Two parking lots are directly managed by BMC and the remaining 14 are institutional parking, managed by business houses, hotels and shopping malls. "In case of institutional parking, we ask the parties to pay us a certain amount on a monthly basis. The amount is fixed according to the space," said a BMC officer.
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