Pay to park in front of house not distant

Pay to park in front of house not distant

BBMP finds such vehicles adding to road congestion

Rohith BR. Bangalore

How do you digest the idea of paying a parking fee to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for your vehicle that stands in front of your house? Most would find the suggestion crazy, but this was a recommendation by the members of the Palike's Third State Finance Commission task force, which wants the suggestion to be included in the civic body's upcoming budget.
The standing committee on finance on Tuesday presented the idea before the council as a method to generate revenue for the BBMP. However, mayor SK Nataraj rubbished the idea stating that it would anger the public if such an idea was initiated.
The task force head, GA Kudgi, justified the committee's stand stating that several citizens constructed houses without making adequate provision to park vehicles inside the compound, and then parked their vehicles on the roads, contributing to the congestion. "Some kind of tax should be levied on such people," he said.
The mayor said that such a move would create resentment among people, but added that such a tax could be levied at commercial complexes that failed to provide parking facilities. "It could be implemented at malls and commercial complexes that have not provided parking facilities as shoppers are forced to park on roads because of lack of such a facility. This could later be extended to residential areas in a phased manner depending on the feasibility," Nataraj said.
On Tuesday, members of the standing committee on finance and the leader of the ruling party in the council, Katte Satyanarayana, presented their suggestions to mop up revenue for the Palike that is facing a financial crunch.