BMC’s fine for overcharging is just `1,000

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, who conducted surprise checks at the corporation’s parking lots around the city over the weekend found many of them overcharging. However, the fine is just Rs 1,000.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, who conducted surprise checks at the corporation’s parking lots around the city over the weekend found many of them overcharging. However, the fine is just Rs 1,000.

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“Our officials visited four parking lots over the weekend and found discrepancies in parking rates,” said Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner. He added, “I have asked officials to submit a report and then action against the contractors will be decided.”

The corporation has a provision for stern action like blacklisting of contractors or having them forfeit their security deposit, but those are only in case of repeated violations. “The provision for such stern action is in place in case of repetitive complaints, but I have not come across any in the past year. Generally, we fine the contractor and leave,” Gupta added.

The checks that used to be a regular feature had been discontinued almost eight months ago as the tender with the current contractors got over last year itself. BMC authorities are now awaiting civic lottery results for the allotment of parking plots, while the contractor continues to administer the parking plots.

The corporation also has plans to install a centralised computer system to curb the overcharging nuisance. “It’s impossible to track 117 pay-and-park facilities in the city. Under the centralised computer system all the parking plots will have a single server that will release the receipts. The system is expected to start within three to six months,” Gupta said.