It’s daylight robbery; parking contractors fleece motorists

The violation has been rampant in areas like Pondy Bazaar and Marina Beach where parking space is limited. They also print fake parking coupons and provide them to vehicle owners  who insist on getting a receipt. “Most of the parking staff refuse to provide coupons and charge as per their wish. 

Many motorists are unaware about the parking fee levied by the Corporation and end up paying extra. Last time when I parked in Pondy Bazaar, the contractor demanded Rs 30 for one hour,” Anjana Krishnan, a resident of Chinmaya Nagar said. Motorists say that many of the parking staff abuse motorists who demand parking coupons and even ask them not to park their cars if they do not pay what they demand. 

As per Corporation parking tariff, four- wheeler owners are expected to pay only Rs 5 for six hours of parking and Rs 20 for 24 hours.  “But in areas like Pondy Bazaar, the parking staff charge on an hourly basis. Once, when I asked for a parking receipt, I was handed a fake ticket without the Chennai Corporation’s seal, date or time,” Harikrishnan, a motorist said. 

When contacted, the Revenue Officer, Chennai Corporation, MK Divakar said that the Tamil Nadu Ex-Servicemen Corporation (TEXCO) was awarded the contract for collecting parking fee from Corporation parking slots. 

“There is a TEXCO supervisor to take care of the operations and we will recommend action to be taken against such erring parking staff,” Divakar said. He said the Chennai Corporation parking fee policy would be completely changed in the coming  months and there would  not be any scope for such malpractices.