Mayor remains clueless on utility of a parking fee

Ban on pole ads may be revoked

Deccan Herald

With a view to finding an alternative system of regulating parking zones — in the absence of parking attendants from April 2005 — Mayor R Narayanaswamy has proposed to revoke the ban on erecting pole ads on busy thoroughfares of the city.
Private firms who get the permission to put up pole ads (after revoking the ban) from Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), would also be entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining and regulating parking zones April, 1, 2005 — from when the BMP’s ban on the existing parking contracts will come into effect, Mr Narayanaswamy told Deccan Herald. “If pole ads are banned, we may have to revoke the decision in the interest of common man. I will ask BMP officials to look into it and a suitable decision will be taken soon,” he stated.

Despite the ban, pole ads can still be seen on roads like M G Road, Brigade Road, Commercial Street, Residency Road and others. “Therefore, I will insist on revoking the ban and make it legal. This, inturn, will help regulating parking zones,” he added.

Traders’ meeting
Mr Narayanaswamy said he would soon convene the meeting of traders on Brigade Road and Commercial Street to convince them to remove parking meters. “As BMP has entered into an agreement with traders under the Indian Traders’ Act, we need to negotiate to terminate the contract,” he added.