Pay-park workers toe the line

Two months after the Hindustan Times exposed how attendants at the civic pay and park facilities were fleecing motorists across the city and the subsequent crackdown by the civic body, a status check on Thursday showed that at least some had mended their ways.

Two months after the Hindustan Times exposed how attendants at the civic pay and park facilities were fleecing motorists across the city and the subsequent crackdown by the civic body, a status check on Thursday showed that at least some had mended their ways.

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HT found that civic parking lot contractors in busy areas had begun charging motorists as per the tariff fixed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). What's more, some contractors had even started issuing original receipts.

HT had published a series of reports from April 15 showing how BMC-appointed contractors were overcharging motorists. Consequently, the BMC's road and traffic department issued a circular to all assistant municipal commissioners (AMC) asking them to inspect pay and park facilities in their wards.

To check the status quo, an HT team visited a few parking lots.

MJP Market (Crawford market) parking lot, where earlier the minimum parking charge was between Rs50-100 per hour, had changed to Rs10 per hour and the receipt, too, was in the original. A parking lot at K Dubhash Marg, too, charged Rs10 for an hour's parking.

However, at Jamnalal Bajaj Marg and NCPA Road attendants continued to flout rules. They demanded twice the approved charge and also allowed 'double parking' (parking vehicles in two rows instead of one), which is illegal. "The motorists arbitrarily charge for parking here. Also, they issue receipts only when the customer demands it," said Hemant Nikam, 38, Nerul resident.

The situation is no different at the lot under Dadar TT flyover. The attendant issues a dummy receipt and overcharges. When HT contacted Sanjay Kurhade assistant municipal commissioner (AMC) of' F-North ward, said, "Pay and parks come under road and traffic coordination. They will take action."

Sunil Dhamane, assistant municipal commissioner, 'A' ward, refused to speak, but a senior official said, "We fined the Crawford Market contractor Rs2,000 and he assured us that he would mend his way."