SDMC seals mall parking, fines hospital for violating free parking rule

Malls and hospitals in south Delhi were allowed additional floor area ratio with a rider that they will provide free parking in their underground slots.

Launching action against malls and hospitals for illegally charging parking fees from visitors, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Thursday sealed the underground parking of TDI mall in Lajpat Nagar.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation will carry out the next round of inspection on Monday. (Tribhuwan Sharma/HT Photo)

During the special drive, the civic agency ordered a fine on Moolchand hospital for charging for surface parking.

“The malls and hospitals were allowed additional floor area ratio with a rider that they will provide free parking in their underground slots. They availed of additional floor area ratio but charged parking fees, which is illegal,” said senior SDMC official.

“During the inspection, we noticed violations in the underground parking at TDI mall. The parking was used as the service centre of a car showroom. Equipment was kept in the storerooms,” said standing committee chairman Bhupendra Gupta.

“Though there was a ‘free parking’ board at the entrance, not even a single vehicle of visitors or customers was allowed to park vehicles,” said Gupta.

The mall authorities couldn’t be contacted despite calls on the landline listed on the company’s official website.

The team inspected Moolchand hospital. “Parking attendants were openly charging R 30 for six hours at the surface parking. This is illegal. We asked officials to challan them as per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act,” said Gupta.

Moolchand hospital’s manager (operations) Satish Kumar denied any knowledge of SDMC’s visit.

The next round of the drive will be carried on Monday.

The civic agency has decided to put free parking boards outside malls and private hospitals, said Gupta..