Chandigarh, December 20: The MC plan of converting 30 parking lots into paid ones in the city has been kept on hold for the time being as the House today decided to write to market welfare associations if they want to run the lots voluntarily.
MC Commissioner KK Yadav told the House members that the civic body would give 15 days to the market associations to express their interest. They would have to submit their plans about running the parking lots.
It was Devinder Singh Babla, the Leader of the Opposition, who resisted the move of the local body to turn these lots into paid facilities. The Congress councillor said it would burden people if they have to pay even for a visit to local market.
“The main aim of the MC is to streamline the vehicle parking system and not make money out of it. Why don’t we learn from the market associations of Sectors 19 and 22, which are managing the lots very well without charging a single penny from the people,” the Congress leader pointed out.
BJP councillor Ravi Kant Sharma said, “The market associations in these sectors are running the parking system better than the MC. We should emulate the plan in other sectors as well rather than making parking a paid facility.”
Yadav agreed with the councillors’ views and said he would seek the response of the market associations.
However, the House approved the agenda regarding paid parking just in case shopkeepers do not come forward to manage the facilities.
As per the parking plan, Rs 5 and Rs 10 will be charged for parking of two-wheelers and four wheelers, respectively. After one year, the parking fee will be charged on hourly basis at the paid facilities in the city.
