Motorists taken for ride at free parking lots in SoBo

Mumbai: Taking serious note of people being defrauded at four parking lots in south Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started the process of filing a first information report (FIR) against anti-social elements. While these parking lots are free-of-cost, it has been observed during surprise visits that motorists are charged parking fees.

The four parking lots include three in A ward on Free Press Journal Marg, Mumbai Samachar Marg and Mahakavi Bhushan Marg and one in C ward near the Hindu Gymkhana on Netaji Subhash Marg (Marine Drive).

Chinod Chithore, director (engineering and projects), “There are 32 parking lots at various places in the city, which are free-of-cost for motorists. Civic officials made surprise visits to these parking lots and found that parking fees were being charged illegally by anti-social elements. The BMC is in the process of filing a FIR in the matter.”

Alarmed by this, assistant municipal commissioner Vijay Singhal has directed officials of the roads and traffic department and ward officers to form three special inspection teams to carry out regular checks to ensure that there is no illegal charging of parking fees at these parking lots and to prevent unauthorised parking lots in the areas under their jurisdiction.

According to civic officials, the BMC has offered free parking at 32 parking lots in south Mumbai due to lack of response from contractors. The civic body had invited bids to operate these parking lots, but it did not receive even a single bid. Due to this, the BMC decided to make parking at these parking lots ‘free of cost’ till the new contractors were appointed.