Kolkata Parking Fee Dispute Escalates as Agencies Defy Civic Body Directives
The cooperative agency overseeing prime parking lots in central Kolkata, including areas like Chowringhee and Dalhousie Square, announced on Tuesday that it has instructed its members to collect Rs 20 per hour from motorists. The agency warned that any attendants demanding more would face disciplinary action. This move comes amid ongoing tensions between parking operators and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), which insists the legal parking fee is only Rs 10 per hour.
Defiance on the Ground: Attendants Charge Up to Rs 50 Per Hour
Despite the directives from both the cooperative agency and KMC officials, parking attendants at Jawaharlal Nehru Road continued to demand Rs 50 per hour from motorists on Tuesday. Rahul Khan, a resident of Picnic Garden, reported paying Rs 50 per hour when exiting a parking lot between Dorina crossing and Lindsay Street, which can accommodate 70 cars at a time. Khan noted that this rate was consistent with his previous experiences parking on JL Nehru Road.
Attendants acknowledged charging Rs 50 an hour but admitted they sometimes accept Rs 40 if offered. One attendant explained, "Getting a parking slot here is difficult. Usually, people queue up to park. Most of them don't mind paying a little more for the service." This highlights the high demand for parking in congested central Kolkata areas.
KMC Officials Vow Crackdown and Surprise Inspections
Debasis Kumar, the Member of Mayor-in-Council overseeing KMC's car parking department, reiterated on Tuesday that agencies running parking lots on Chowringhee and adjoining areas must strictly adhere to rules. He warned of stern action against violators. "I have asked my team to conduct a surprise visit to all major parking lots to keep a watch on the parking attendants. Besides, the errant agencies will be served show-cause notice," Kumar stated.
However, a KMC car parking department official clarified that there is no provision to charge Rs 20 per hour, emphasizing that the legal rate remains Rs 10. The official also mentioned plans to phase out the coupon system and reintroduce a parking app to streamline fee collection.
Cooperative Agency's Stance and Historical Context
Jagdish Chowdhury of Pioneer Cooperative Car Parking Servicing & Construction Society Ltd explained that all members were asked to charge Rs 20 an hour. He referenced a two-year-old revision by KMC that increased monthly slot fees from Rs 1,210 to Rs 1,610, along with a parking fee hike intended to curb extortion. "But the hike was withdrawn. We thereafter told KMC that we will charge Rs 20 per hour," Chowdhury said. Kolkata has 28 other parking societies, adding complexity to enforcement.
Chowdhury pledged to take action against members charging Rs 50 an hour if complaints are received. However, he also pointed out significant challenges, such as hawker encroachments on parking slots. For instance, at Humayun Place, space for 18 cars is largely unusable due to encroachments, and on Bertram Street, capacity has shrunk from 80 to 32 slots. "Now, once a car leaves, hawkers don't allow another to park there. There is no rotation at all. We hardly get to park 20-22 cars in a day," he lamented.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Issues
The dispute underscores broader issues in Kolkata's urban management, including:
- Inconsistent enforcement of parking regulations by civic authorities.
- High demand for limited parking spaces in central areas leading to inflated fees.
- Encroachment problems that reduce effective parking capacity and revenue for agencies.
- Communication gaps between KMC, cooperative agencies, and on-ground attendants.
As KMC plans surprise inspections and potential crackdowns, motorists continue to face uncertainty over parking costs. The situation calls for coordinated efforts between all stakeholders to establish clear, enforceable rules and address infrastructural challenges like hawker encroachments.
