Owing to lack of response from contractors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to offer ‘free parking’ at 39 parking lots in South Mumbai.
Owing to lack of response from contractors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to offer ‘free parking’ at 39 parking lots in South Mumbai.
According to civic officials, the civic body had invited bids to operate parking lots in the A ward. Of them, 39 parking lots did not receive even a single bid. The BMC then decided to make parking at these parking lots ‘free of cost’ till new contractors are appointed.
Many of these parking lots are at prime locations such as PJ Ramchandani Marg near Gateway of India, Vidhan Bhavan Marg, Jamshedji Tata Marg, University Marg, Hornimon Circle, Free Press Marg, Mumbai Samachar Marg, Hutatma Chowk, LIC building, Regal Cinema, Fort, Jehangir Art Gallery, NCPA, Marine Drive etc.
At these 39 parking lots, about 7,146 vehicles — 4,924 four wheelers and 2,222 two-wheelers — can be parked. The BMC will install free parking signage at these parking lots. To prevent charging of money, the numbers of BMC and police officials will be displayed on the boards so that people can lodge complaint, said civic officials.
Speaking to The Asian Age, A ward assistant commissioner Kiran Dighavkar said, “After it was found that contractors cheated the BMC by not paying the required deposit money, we decided to make tender conditions more stringent. Conditions like asking bank guarantee, security deposit for two months were added to tender process. That might have been the case that contractors did not respond to bids for 39 parking lots.”
Meanwhile, the Bombay high court has upheld the BMC’s decision to reserve 50 per cent of parking lots for women self-help groups. The verdict came on a petition by former corporator Hamida Mistry and Dr Aslam Qureshi, who had challenged quota in the parking scheme to be implemented at 92 locations in the city.
While 50 per cent parking lots will be given to women self-help groups, 25 per cent each will be given to special organisations/educated unemployed youths and open category, including for heirs of martyrs respectively. “It will take at least six months to complete the tender process of awarding contracts as per the court ruling. Till then, parking will be free at these 39 parking lots,” said the official.
