Chandigarh: The Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to invite fresh tenders for operating the paid parking lots in the city. An agenda in this regard will come up at the General House meeting scheduled to be held on February 28.
Sources said while tenders would be floated for the same parking rates as charged by Arya Toll Infra Ltd, there was a possibility that the General House may reduce the rates till the finalisation of the new contract.
The MC had earlier scrapped the agreement with M/s Arya Toll Infra Ltd, which was running the 25 paid parking lots and a multi-level parking in the city, after three cheques for Rs 1.5 crore (Rs 50 lakh each) issued by the firm in lieu of installments bounced. While the firm did not get any relief from the court today, the MC has started the process to invite fresh tenders.
After taking over the parking lots, the MC had decided to run these on the rates charged by Arya Toll Infra. The fee charged is Rs 10 for two-wheelers and Rs 20 for four-wheelers but local MP Kirron Kher asked Mayor Rajesh Kalia to reduce the rates further.
Tilak Raj, Additional Commissioner, said the MC would run the 25 paid parking lots and the multi-level parking with own employees. They were also planning to outsource employees.
The Mumbai-based firm had been given the contract two years ago for over Rs 14 crore after turning these lots smart. The company had enhanced the rates twice, first in December 2017 and later in April 2018.
Devinder Singh Babla, a Congress councillor, said the MC should reduce the rates with immediate effect.
