Free parking in Bangalore? Try telling these touts

Free parking in Bangalore? Try telling these touts


Faiza Haneef
First Published : 06 Dec 2008 09:39:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 06 Dec 2008 11:48:18 AM IST

BANGALORE: Free parking, it seems, exists in name only. Right under the noses of the traffic police and the civic administration, touts rule the roost collecting parking fee from hapless motorists.

This is found to be rampant in prominent places like MG Road, Cunningham Road, Gandhinagar and Kamraj Road.

Parking was made free in Bangalore about four years ago. The then Congress- led city corporation’s populist measure met with reservations from the city police from the word go. The police cited vehicle thefts, haphazard parking, problems in traffic regulation as reasons for bringing back paid-parking.

The genuine concerns expressed by police were caught in the wrangle of the political combinations of the day – a coalition in the state.

Much has changed since, but even as on Friday, all that a senior traffic police officer could say of their situation was this: “We have written many letters to the BBMP to re-launch the scheme but they have not come to a decision yet.” The illegal collection of parking fee that is seen around the city too is the responsibility of the BBMP, the officer said.

“It is the BBMP that has to take action against the touts,” he said “The business of collecting parking fee is a daily affair in most commercial locations. I am bothered about convenient parking, so I do not mind paying Rs 2 or Rs 3,” said Likith Kumar, a motorist.

“Many a time I have argued with those collecting money asking them that they should issue a token at least. But, that is of no use and at the end, I have to pay them. Interestingly, the person who collects the money while parking disappears and there will be a new face after sometime,” said Arjun, a resident of Queen’s Road. “The sum collected is also according to their whims and fancies, nobody can question them,” he added.

When enquired, one of these touts said, “We normally collect Rs 2 to 3 as the minimum charge and we look after their vehicles. Though pay and park scheme is not there, people don’t mind paying us as they fear vehicle theft.” He also said, ‘‘Allegations that we harass the vehicle owners are wrong as we don’t get into an argument with them.” A senior BBMP official said that zonal joint commissioners should look at these things and take action against such illegal activities. The then BMP earned over Rs 4 crore annually through the pay-and-park scheme, he recalled.