BMP may reintroduce pay-and-park system

BMP may reintroduce pay-and-park system

The Hindu

Jairaj says he will implement government's instructions

# Two packages likely to be offered to parking contractors
# 13 roads selected for re-introducing pay-and-park system

Bangalore: It is almost certain the pay-and-park system will be reintroduced. While Mayor Mumtaz Begum has expressed herself against this, the State Government has asked for it and Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K. Jairaj has said he would follow the government's directive.

The State Government struck down the BMP's decision to allow free parking earlier this year and asked for paid parking to be introduced again. The traffic police had all along been opposed to free parking because of problems like double parking and vehicles being left parked for hours together. BMP officials and senior police officers were known to have held meetings in this regard. The BMP officials had invited tenders for contractors to man designated paid parking areas; the stretches with metered parking like Brigade Road and Commercial Street will not come under this scheme. Paid parking was done away with more than a year ago after opposition members in the BMP Council and certain political leaders exposed irregularities committed by some parking contractors. The tender procedure was for 13 select roads or stretches on them and many were earlier under the paid parking system.

The contracts were likely to be issued in two packages and for now, there would be no parking meters. The parking lot attenders were expected to issue the parking tickets and restrict parking time. An automated paid parking system with meters is expected to be in place by January end on some of these roads.

According to tenders called for, there will be two packages of parking lots. The first will cover the stretches from Ramaiah Circle to Satyam Software and from Cambridge 1st Cross to Sai Baba Mandir Road in Cambridge Layout. On Thimmaiah Road, paid parking will be from Narayana Pillai Street to Islamia Junior College. On Thoppa Mudaliar Street, it will be from Ashoka Hotel to Renuka cinema and all of Edward Road will be for paid parking. On LIC Road, there would be odd-day and even-day parking on either side from Shankara Math Circle to Havanur Circle. Sirur Park Road and Castle Stareet will have paid parking.

The second package will cover roads such as Dr. Rajkumar Road in Rajajinagar (up to Vidyavardhaka Sangha) and Rajainagar 19th Cross (Diacon junction to MKK Road junction) and Rajajinagar 12th Main (Bashyam Circle to P and T Junction) and Dr. Rajkumar Road (from Navrang to Rajajinagar entrance).