RAJKOT: For once, the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) are on the same page — for demanding the abolition of the pay & park system and wanting free parking for all in Saurashtra region’s financial capital.
Rajkot city has 42 pay & park sites, but commuters prefer to park on the roadside to avoid paying charges.
The issue of abolishing the pay & park system was recently raised both by the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress during a recent meeting of the RMC standing committee. During the meeting, a proposal for re-tendering of current pay and park sites was placed before the members for discussion by Rajkot municipal commissioner Amit Arora.
During the discussion, BJP corporator Nehal Shukla demanded the abolition of the pay & park system on behalf of the ruling party. He went on to suggest that local traders association or voluntary organisations be given the contract to manage parking in the city. Shukla also offered to compensate the civic body for the loss of revenue from his own pocket.
“RMC’s intention is not to generate revenue from pay & park sites. It gets only Rs 9.50 lakh per year from the pay & park contractors, who Rs 1 crore from the public every year. Most of the commuters find a parking place in the corners and in streets where there is no charge. Many a times parking charges have led to clashes with contractors who bully the people,” Shukla told TOI.
The leader of opposition in RMC, Congress’s Bhanuben Sorani too demanded the abolition of the pay & park policy during the standing committee meeting.
When contacted, municipal commissioner Amit Arora said, “A model parking policy was floated by the state government and based on that RMC’s parking policy was approved in the general board. A uniform policy has been adopted by all the municipal corporations for parking in commercial areas.”
He added that the parking charges collected were not so high. “These charges are to maintain discipline and proper parking on congested roads,” Arora said.
Rajkot city has 42 pay & park sites, but commuters prefer to park on the roadside to avoid paying charges.
The issue of abolishing the pay & park system was recently raised both by the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress during a recent meeting of the RMC standing committee. During the meeting, a proposal for re-tendering of current pay and park sites was placed before the members for discussion by Rajkot municipal commissioner Amit Arora.
During the discussion, BJP corporator Nehal Shukla demanded the abolition of the pay & park system on behalf of the ruling party. He went on to suggest that local traders association or voluntary organisations be given the contract to manage parking in the city. Shukla also offered to compensate the civic body for the loss of revenue from his own pocket.
“RMC’s intention is not to generate revenue from pay & park sites. It gets only Rs 9.50 lakh per year from the pay & park contractors, who Rs 1 crore from the public every year. Most of the commuters find a parking place in the corners and in streets where there is no charge. Many a times parking charges have led to clashes with contractors who bully the people,” Shukla told TOI.
The leader of opposition in RMC, Congress’s Bhanuben Sorani too demanded the abolition of the pay & park policy during the standing committee meeting.
When contacted, municipal commissioner Amit Arora said, “A model parking policy was floated by the state government and based on that RMC’s parking policy was approved in the general board. A uniform policy has been adopted by all the municipal corporations for parking in commercial areas.”
He added that the parking charges collected were not so high. “These charges are to maintain discipline and proper parking on congested roads,” Arora said.