Mafia cloud over multi-level parking plan

The multi-level parking concept has failed to take off in Gurgaon mainly due to the clout of the parking mafia in the city. Despite repeated floating of tenders, none of the private companies have come forward to file a bid, Leena Dhankhar reports.

This story is from archives and was originally published a year ago.

HT Image

The multi-level parking concept has failed to take off in Gurgaon mainly due to the clout of the parking mafia in the city. Despite repeated floating of tenders, none of the private companies have come forward to file a bid.

Their biggest fear is that since unauthorised parking lots are spread all over Gurgaon, there would no takers for the multi-level parking facility.

Firms are reluctant to invest in this business as they fear that local goons are primarily involved in this line. There is also an underlining fear that the illegal contractors have criminal backgrounds and prevent new entrants from venturing that can reduce their monopoly.

"There is a mafia that runs all parking lots and the police have turned a blind eye towards it," said Dheeraj Sharma, who used to run a parking lot.

Though authorities have been talking about the multi-level facility for the last few years, it seems that the plan is now in cold storage.

Rahul Jaiswal, a banker, said, "There is an urgent need for multi-level parking facility. I won't even mind paying extra, but the district administration has closed its eyes. At the end of the day, it's the mafia who is minting money."

Last year, several cars were stolen from Iffco Chowk, Galleria market parking and Sector 29.

At these parking lots, the commuters are given parking receipts by the mafia which clearly state that "parking is at owners' risk".

Moreover, there have been complaints about helmets and car accessories going missing from vehicles. "I parked my bike at the Sector-29 parking and locked the helmet with it. But when I returned, it was missing. I asked the parking staff, who did not even bother to look for it," said Nitin Kumar, a resident of Sushant Lok.