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Ludhiana: Two years on, MC yet to issue fresh tenders for six parking sites
Sources said the parking contract, last awarded in October 2022 for one year, has not been re-auctioned since its expiry in October 2023
The municipal corporation has failed to auction six major parking sites in the city since the contract expired in October 2023, allowing the same contractor to continue operations through repeated extensions even as complaints of overcharging and mismanagement persist.
The sites — Feroze Gandhi Market, Sarabha Nagar market, Model Town (including the Tuition Market area), BRS Nagar, Bhadhaur House market and the multi-storey parking near Mata Rani Chowk — are among the busiest commercial hubs and key revenue generators for the civic body.
Sources said the parking contract, last awarded in October 2022 for one year, has not been re-auctioned since its expiry in October 2023.
Despite approval from the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) to auction these sites, the civic body is yet to initiate the e-auction process or announce a timeline.
On the ground, irregularities continue to be reported. At Bhadhaur House, visitors alleged being charged arbitrary rates without receipts, while rate lists were not displayed. Similar complaints of unauthorised fee collection have surfaced from Feroze Gandhi Market.
Traders and commuters said overcharging, lack of regulation and misbehaviour by parking staff have become routine. They alleged that repeated complaints to civic officials have not resulted in any corrective action.
Civic activist Jagjot Singh questioned the delay, alleging lack of transparency. “The MC is floating tenders worth hundreds of crores, but routine parking auctions remain pending. This raises serious concerns,” he said.
MC assistant commissioner Jasdev Sekhon said the process is underway. “Tenders will be floated within days,” he said, without specifying a timeline.
The delay has also impacted traffic management, with haphazard parking and encroachments contributing to congestion in key markets.
With no fresh tenders and continued extensions, the situation has raised concerns over oversight and potential revenue loss for the civic body, even as commuters continue to bear the brunt.
