Mumbai: BMC cuts SoBo's fleecing parking agents to size

While Mumbaikars struggle to find a hassle-free parking space for their vehicles, BMC has identified a few self-appointed contractors who are charging fee at places that were meant for a free parking and also some who are overcharging vehicle owners in South Mumbai's A-ward.

A Ballard Estate parking lot in South Mumbai that is also part of BMC's re-tendering process. Pic/Bipin Kokate

The civic body has decided to invite tenders for the 47 such parking lots they found. As the BMC was earlier not getting the amount it should be earning from these areas, it has formed stricter rules to now earn its rightful Rs 1.14 crore.

"We have re-tendered these parking spaces and expect to earn Rs 1.14 crore annually from them," said Kiran Dhighavkar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, A-ward.

These contractors had categorised these parking lots into 11 packages, depending on their size, but now the BMC has brought it down to four on the basis of their productivity. They are productive if vehicles are constantly being parked and non-productive if those parked once don't leave for the entire day.

"The contractors, who were asked to collect parking fee, were overcharging motorists despite us keeping fare charts. Also, the monthly cheques that they were supposed to pay us, bounced. So now we have changed the terms and conditions of the contract which wouldn't benefit them," said a BMC official. Sources said the contractors also used to misdirect motorists into parking in their spaces, despite there being free parking lots in the area.

For bicycles
Besides, it has also decided to allot 470 parking spaces to bicycles, which will be the first-of-its-kind in the city. This will be a vital step after the MMRDA's plan for a bicycle path at BKC failed as it is now being used for buses.