MSRDC takes on illegal parking lot

While the MSRDC has started terminating contracts with private firms that run pay-and-park facilities under its flyovers following a high court order, the corporation has found that a group of local goons is illegally charging motorists to park under the Elphinstone bridge.

While the MSRDC has started terminating contracts with private firms that run pay-and-park facilities under its flyovers following a high court order, the corporation has found that a group of local goons is illegally charging motorists to park under the Elphinstone bridge.

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In August 2012, the Bombay high court had ordered a ban on parking vehicles under flyovers in the city citing security concerns.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd (MSRDC) is now considering measures it can take to stop the illegal parking.

“Whenever, we visit the flyover area, the goons flee. So, we have decided to place posters on the pillars below the flyover warning motorists that parking there is illegal,” said an MSRDC official, requesting anonymity. “In addition, we are planning to station one security guard there to prevent the illegal activity from continuing. We have got information of illegal parking under some other flyovers as well.”

The corporation will also put up a fence around the area below the flyovers after all the contracts for pay-and-park lots are terminated. Then, these areas are to be beautified.

MSRDC has 31 flyovers in the city, of which 10 have never been used for parking. According to their data, the contracts for the parking lots at nine flyovers have already expired while notices have been sent to terminate the contracts for the remaining 12.