BMP scraps parking fee

BMP scraps parking fee

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s Council passed a resolution but is yet to evolve an alternative system to regulate vehicular parking in the City.

Deccan Herald

The City’s pay-and-park system is at the end of its lot.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council on Saturday passed a resolution — which is likely to come into effect from April — scrapping the collection of parking fee.

However, the BMP council has reserved its decision on introducing free parking in its multi-storied parking complexes and in places where automated parking machines are installed.

The resolution passed by the council will be forwarded to the government for its decision.

Mayor R Narayanaswamy, after passing the resolution, said the existing parking contracts on 128 roads will be terminated by returning the contractors’ deposits. “This will help the common man,” he said. He said the BMP has the power to terminate the contract as per its convenience. “It is clearly mentioned, as one of the 34 contract conditions, that the BMP can terminate the contract at any time,” Mr Narayanaswamy added.

‘Not much revenue’
The BMP will initiate suitable measures to plug revenue leaks in various departments in order to make good the revenue loss from parking, he said. “The BMP is not earning much from this system. It can augment its revenue through various other sources.”

Though the council passed the resolution, the BMP has not yet evolved an alternate system to maintain and regulate parking on the city roads. “We need to work this out and many other issues before introducing the free parking system.
“There should not be any problem either for smooth movement of traffic or the security of vehicles parked,” BMP Commissioner K Jothiramalingam told reporters. Special Commissioner Subash Chandra said the BMP is thinking of entrusting the responsibility to maintain and regulate parking zones to private firms on roads the companies have put up advertising hoardings.

On roads where there are no hoardings, the task can be entrusted to private firms by giving them permission to put up ads on poles, he added.

Though the council passed the resolution by and large unanimously, several corporators raised doubts about the feasibility of the new system. The members were apprehensive about the regulation of free parking zones, security of parked vehicles, loss of revenue, abrupt termination of the existing contracts and related issues.

Private firms
JD(U) leader Padmanaba Reddy said private firms that are given charge of regulating free parking zones may put up hoardings right on the footpath, causing inconvenience to pedestrians.

Besides, it may lead to unauthorised collection of money from people claiming to be guarding parked vehicles, he said.

Congress’ A Krishnappa expressed concern over the loss of revenue. “You (the Mayor) are planning to plug revenue leakage to make good this loss. But it is easier said than done,” he said.



FREE FOR ALL

* Automated parking may stay
* No decision on parking at BMP complexes
* Existing contracts to be terminated
* Private companies may take over