South Delhi Municipal Corporation is likely to take over the parking lots of South Delhi's malls and hospitals a week after it promised free parking facility at around 75 malls, hospitals and other commercial areas.
The Corporation alleged that they have been sending notices individually to the property owners, said that despite issuing public notice, hefty parking fees are being charged by the operators of parking lots but as per the agreement they should provide free parking to the visitors.
"To avoid chaos on roads/streets, markets and open spaces, we give relief in FAR of commercial properties under which the owner agrees to run free parking lots. Once construction finishes, the later starts minting money through this. Even they do not spare Corporation staff, councilor and other dignitaries. Now we have decided to come down heavily on such violators so people we could ease chaos on roads and provide relief to the common man. Initially we had served notice as whole and now we have been sending the same to every individual and more action will be witnessed in coming days,"said Ashish Sood, leader of the House in SDMC.
The decision to ban paid parking was taken at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the civic body earlier. "The decision was taken in view of the complaints that private parking facilities at malls and hospitals charge high fees, in the range of `50-100, for parking of vehicles. 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.," said Radhe Shyam Sharma, Chairman of SDMC's Standing Committee.
There are 39 malls and 35 hospitals in the SDMC area that provide private parking facilities. Apart from this there are over hundred commercial compexes which also provide the same facility by charging fee from the visitors.