Some private malls and hospitals are charging exorbitant parking fee even after the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) passed a resolution a month ago ordering them not to do so.
It had stated that malls and hospitals under Corporation’s jurisdiction can no longer charge parking fee for parking vehicle. There are 39 malls and 35 hospitals in the SDMC area that provide private parking facilities, a senior municipal officer said.
SDMC officials said they had issued notifications to private mall and hospital operators asking them to discontinue charging parking fees, but only some followed it. “Only a few have been following our orders and stopped charging parking fee, while the others are still going on charging high fee from people,” said an official in the SDMC.
As per the corporation, when it passes building plans for malls, hospitals and other commercial enterprise, the basement is not considered as a commercial area, as it is not included in the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), but later it is used for commercial activities.
“After construction is complete in these establishments, the operators charge high rates for parking in their basements. They should either pay the corporation or run it for free since it turns into a commercial space,” said an official.
Amid growing complaints of high fee being charged for use of parking facilities, the SDMC had banned paid parking in 75 malls and hospitals falling in its area.
The decision to ban paid parking was taken during Standing Committee meeting of the civic body in November of this year.
“The decision was taken in view of the complaints that private parking facilities at malls and hospitals charge high fee in the range of Rs50-100 for parking of vehicles,” said Radhe Shyam Sharma, Chairman of SDMC Standing Committee.
Private parking operators at the hospitals and malls in the municipal area will now have to allow free parking or take prior permission of SDMC for charging a fee, he said.