Book market lot: Overbilling, Ludhiana authorities unresponsive : The Tribune India
Tribune press service
Harshraj Singh
Ludhiana, August 3
In the name of the pay-by-the-hour parking system, the book market parking contractor near Chaura Bazaar is scamming visitors by forcing them to pay more than the parking rates set by the Zila Parishad. Concerned Zila Parishad authorities, however, turned a blind eye to such corrupt practices when the AAP-led state government made lofty statements to root out corruption.
On Monday, a visitor was reportedly charged 10 times the department-set fee at the parking lot. She was charged Rs 100 for parking her car for less than an hour. According to the rates set by the parishad, the parking fee is Rs 10 for the first hour.
The woman alleged that the contractor’s staff asked her to pay 100 rupees for parking her car for 45-50 minutes. When she raised an objection to the overcharge, the contractor’s field worker refused to hear her concern. No parking fees (hourly) were mentioned on the manual slip that was issued to him. However, the contractor’s employee just wrote “100” with a pen on the slip. Also, the vehicle number and appropriate times were also not written on the slip.
Visitors have long complained about the overcrowded Zila Parishad parking lot. But, the authorities of Zila Parishad concerned did not check the violations committed by the contractor who did not even post the parking rates in the parking lot.
Meanwhile, a two-wheeler driver said he was charged Rs 30 for parking his motorbike. Visitors were unaware of the actual parking rates on the lot.
On the other hand, the personnel deployed by the contractor in the parking lot denied the allegations of overcharging. A man working for the contractor said the price list was not available here. He claimed the parking charge was Rs 20 per hour.
Yadwinder Singh Jandiali, chairman of Zila Parishad, said he would look into the matter and ask the relevant secretary to inspect the parking lot. He added that the contractor had been instructed to post parking rates. If a violation was found, a notice would be sent to the contractor.
Parking rates not displayed
Visitors have long complained about the overcrowded parking lot at the Zila Parishad Book Market. But the authorities failed to control the violations committed by the contractor who did not even post the parking rates on the ground.
Expenses
According to information obtained from the office of Zila Parishad, the parking fee is Rs 5 for a two-wheeler and Rs 10 for a three- or four-wheeler for the first hour, Rs 10 for a two-wheeler and Rs 20 for a three or four-wheelers up to two hours, Rs 15 for a two-wheeler and Rs 30 for a three- or four-wheeler up to three hours, and Rs 20 for a two-wheeler and Rs 40 for a four-wheeler until four o’clock. After four hours, double rates would be charged.
