KOLKATA: Unfazed by complaints from motorists, attendants of Park Street Car Parking Society — the agency entrusted to collect fees from cars and twowheelers parked on Park Street and adjacent roads — continue to harass and fleece people.
Three days after reporting how the attendants manning the parking lot between Middleton Row and Russell Street had illegally reserved nearly the entire lot for two-wheelers to earn more, TOI was witness to an attendant charging bikers Rs 20 for an hour — four times the official rate — and motorists Rs 30 to Rs 50 for an hour — three-five times the official rate — on Wednesday.
There has to be a concerted campaign against parking extortion. Breaks allow irregularities to return and take root. It would also help if there is regular monitoring –by civic and police officials –of parking zones, especially in business districts from where most complaints come.
According to the fee structure issued by Kolkata Municipal Corporation, it is Rs 5 an hour for two-wheelers and Rs 10 an hour for cars.
“I try to block the entire space for two-wheelers as one can park six bikes in place of one car. Even if one collected the official rate, it makes business sense to allow two-wheelers to park because one can collect three times the amount from one car. The official rates don’t make sense. At Rs 20 an hour, I get Rs120 from the space that would otherwise fetch Rs 10 from a car,” said one of the two attendants managing the lot opposite Park Hotel.
For cars that come in early, attendants charge anywhere between Rs 30 and 50 for an hour. It is a loss-making proposition and they do everything possible, including keeping bikes 2m apart when there aren’t sufficient two-wheelers to prevent cars from occupying any empty space.
Motorists and restaurateurs are dismayed at the civic inaction. “The problem is acute on weekdays, particularly during office hours. I wanted to have a quick lunch with my wife, but with the attendant refusing to allow us a spot, I am going to some place else to eat. If this continues, restaurants on Park Street will lose patrons,” said retired executive Partha Sen.
Rakesh Misra, a bank official, has decided to avoid driving to Park Street and instead take a cab if he has work there. “I requested three attendants on Park Street to give me a spot for at least half an hour as I had a meeting nearby. But I was denied even though a couple of spots were vacant,” he said.
A senior KMC official in the car parking department said the department had received such complaints and will take appropriate action.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kolkata-park-street-attendants-continue-harassing-motorists-to-earn-more-from-2-wheelers/articleshow/80822173.cms
