AFTER PARKING ROW,THE SCAM

AFTER PARKING ROW,THE SCAM

ATUL CHATURVEDI



Is BBMP being taken for a ride by the contractor it appointed to operate the pay-and-park system on key roads in the city? On the face of it, it would seem so. The civic body gets a revenue of Rs 2 lakh every month from the Brigade Road Shops and Establishments Association for a stretch where 85 cars can be parked.
In contrast, it receives Rs 1.75 lakh from the contractor who has been given the collection rights for nine important roads, among them M G Road, St Mark’s Road and Lavelle Road. The nine roads taken together have parking space for 2,000 cars.
CITIZENS IRE
Voicing his suspicions of a scam, Ramkumar, an Indiranagar resident, said, “Rs 2 lakh comes from a half-kilometre stretch and Rs 1.75 lakh from nine streets which are spread across more than 10 km. Who allowed this at the cost of the common man?”
Another motorist remarked, “The parking fee — Rs 10 per hour — is the same on Brigade Road and the other roads. But Brigade Road has automated parking and 13 security guards to monitor the system and ensure that no vehicle is stolen. The other roads do not have these facilities; in fact, the contractor issues a receipt which says he is not responsible for vehicle thefts.”
HIT BY CONTROVERSY
During Governor’s rule in the state, BBMP had proposed the introduction of pay-and-park on the lines of the Brigade Road model at 37 other roads. There were few takers for the scheme from trade associations. Later, G Subramanya, managing partner of Ishwarya Associates, made a representation stating that he was an exarmy man and intended to run the pay-and-park system on nine roads. Purportedly on the basis of a letter recommending his case by urban development minister S Suresh Kumar, the civic body issued an order in his favour.
According to a retired BBMP engineer, the civic body had not insisted on an automated parking system or revenuesharing for these roads, and this had gone in the contractor’s favour. Following a public outcry, BBMP cancelled the contract but the contractor went to the high court and obtained a stay order.
OFFICIALSPEAK
“WHEN WE SIGNED AN MOU WITH BRIGADE ROAD sHOPS AND ESTABLISHMENTS ASSOCIATION TO SET UP A METERED PARKING SYSTEM, THEY AGREED TO GIVE US 50 PER CENT OF THE REVENUES AND UTILISE THE REST FOR MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADATION OF THE ROAD. THEY WERE ALLOWED TO COLLECT RS 10 AN HOUR. WHEREAS WITH THE CONTRACTOR, WE HAVE AGREED TO TAKE RS 1.75 LAKH AS OUR SHARE OF REVENUE FROM HIM EVERY MONTH. HE IS COLLECTING, PER HOUR, RS 10 FROM CAR AND RS 2 FROM BIKES.”
BBMP OFFICIAL
THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT WITH THE CONTRACTOR. THAT IS WHY WE CANCELLED IT. HE HAS GONE TO COURT AND OBTAINED A STAY. WE ARE SCRUTINISING THE DOCUMENTS GIVEN TO US BY THE CONTRACTOR AND WILL TRY TO CONVINCE THE COURT TO RULE IN OUR FAVOUR.
BBMP ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER
(EAST) PUTTASWAMY