Kashmere Gate parking continued overcharging despite hike rollback

New Delhi: Despite government's rollback of parking hike, DMRC parking lot in Kashmere Gate on Thursday continued over charging from people.

The incident came to notice when Rahul Singh, a vehicle owner, argued with the parking attendant, who was asking him to pay Rs 200. Even though the roll back of the four fold of charges but attendant ignored to accept the order, even if the interventions of the DMRC control room, he refused to accept low down the charges.

As smog blanket engulfed the city region and the level of pollutants multiplied, the government ordered a four-fold hike in parking to curb the number of vehicle on roads. "But these parking guys had started collected surplus amount. Every day, I park my car for six hours and pay Rs 40. Even if the rates have been increased four-time, it will be 160. Why are they charging extra Rs 40," said Rahul Singh, a Manager, Cheil.

He further added that it was worse when the DMRC withdraw the extra charges after the clear instruction of LG order with immediate effect, than why these attendants are charging extra despite the regular fare.

When Millennium Post inquired, the parking attendant said, "We are illiterate workers and don't know about any order. We respond to our contractor and follow his instructions only. Until, he won't convey the message to charge regular fare, the vehicles owners have to pay the revised amount."

Collecting extra bucks was not the tale of Kashmere Gate parking only, there were several other parking lots following the same procedure to loot the vehicle owners. "Over parking charges, I had a bad argument with the parking attendant at Seelampur, DMRC parking. Where, the attendant refuse to hand over my bike despite continuous argument, eventually, had to pay the surplus amount to get my bike, said Samshad Saifi, a shop owner.

Moreover, on condition of anonymity, a parking attendent said, "most other parking lots across the city, vendors said they have not received any instructions to roll back the parking fee.

"Even when, we get it, we will take some time to implement it as during the roll out of four-fold, our business was in acute loss," said another person at Metro parking in Anand Vihar.