Despite issuing several warning and incurring hefty fine amount upon the private firm, GNOSTIC Solutions, managing the parking services at the busiest MG Marg, continues to extort people over the parking tokens issue often creating ruckus. Roped in with the motto to streamline the traffic snarl frequently created in the wake of slapdash parking at the Capital City’s major square, like Ranchi Municipal Corporation’s other major public service status, this initiative of managing parking too is in a shambles.
Notably, the firm has yet not paid the fine amount of Rs 3.45 lakh to the Municipal Corporation for infringing the contract clauses. For breaching the clause norms like failing to submit police verification records of the employees, uniforms, identity (ID) cards, redundant Point of Sale (POS) machines including keeping the deputed staffs aside from the responsibility of vehicles safety has compelled the regulating agency to act sternly upon the defaulters.
“The RMC has yet not received a penny from the agency, GNOSTIC Solutions. Another notice will be sent to the company on October 28 as a reminder. If then also, the company fails to make payment further action will be taken against the offender. Only after two weeks, stringent action will be taken up by the Civic Body considering the contract,” said, Municipal Commissioner, Shaantanu Kumar Agrahari.
Notably, the Municipal Commissioner on October 14 issued a notice to the company imposing a hefty penalty upon the company while slamming the agency for not following the guidelines issued to them way back on June 20, 2017. Earlier, during the meeting with Mayor Asha lakra alongwith the senior officials of the Municipal Corporation, the Bengaluru based company officers were instructed to primarily put a check on the unruly behaviour of all those employees deputed at the MG Marg for managing the parking service. Besides this, proper dress code with QR codes embedded on the uniforms including ID cards was made mandatory for the staffs.
After receiving complains on regular basis over the code of conduct including the methodology on which parking tickets were issued to the residents, the Civic Body had warned the senior officials of the firm to either manage its employees or else face the music. In the major lapse, by far, the concerned agency has failed to present the verification records of all its employees lending their services in streamlining parking at Main Road. Notably, the company officials were supposed to clear the verification records matter after immediately taking the responsibility of parking service here.
Recently, the issue ‘Parking is solely at owner’s risk, we just provide space’winched much controversy. Several city residents often complain about the issues like imposing double amount on parking cost, charging full-amount regardless of ten minutes free parking proposal. In addition, queries related to tow away charges has been on the agenda since long as according to the contract rules, the recovery amount must be shared between the company and the Municipal Corporation equally but the agency never submitted the exact tow amount collection details to RMC.
The parking charge rate was decided by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) way back before the implementation of colour code system. As per the rate card for parking vehicles at green parking zone for three hours Rs 20 is collected from car owners and Rs 5 from the owners of two wheelers. While at yellow parking zone, for two hours, a car owner has to pay Rs 30 whereas two wheeler owners pay Rs 10. For parking vehicles at one of the most expensive parking precincts, orange parking vicinity, Rs 40 has been fixed for cars and Rs 10 for two wheelers.