Post plaints of illegal collection, SMC issues guidelines for parking fee

Acting promptly after receiving complaints of illegal parking fee collection, the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has set up guidelines for the same. Deputy Mayor Ranjan Sarkar and Member of Mayor-in-Council Rajesh Prasad Shah, of the Parking department, held a meeting with the tendered agencies of parking zones where they have strictly instructed to follow the guidelines. Failing this, the SMC will take legal action against them.

“We have received numerous complaints that many tendered agencies have collected double-parking fees with their own coupons. To stop such illegal activities, we have introduced a set of guidelines. We informed the agencies about the guidelines in the meeting. If anyone disobeys the guidelines, action will be taken against the agencies,” said Rajan Sarkar.

There are 32 parking zones under the SMC and 28 agencies have given the tender for collecting the parking fees. Ranjan Sarkar said: “SMC will print new coupons with the parking rates. As per the rates, Rs 5 will be charged for two-wheelers for the first hour, later additional Rs 2 will be charged per hour. For four-wheelers, the rate is Rs 10 per hour. No one is allowed to print their own coupons. Only SMC coupons will be allowed. The date, time, and hour will be mentioned on the coupons.”

The SMC will provide identity cards to the parking fee collectors to identify them. So that no one from outside can collect the fees. Boards with the rate chart will be installed on the road after every 500 meters.

Incidentally, citizens of Siliguri had raised complaints against tendered agencies for charging double-parking fees instead of the parking fees set by the SMC. It was alleged that these agencies were unlawfully printing their parking coupons and collecting fees- the news had been published in the Millennium Post.