KMC surprise raids after parking extortion plaints
Times of India | 3 August 2024
12 Kolkata: Based on complaints from motorists, KMC has started conducting surprise raids at some of the city’s prime parking zones.
“We have received several complaints from motorists that a section of parking attendants is demanding four-five times more than the KMC-approved rates. If a motorist refuses to pay the exorbitant amount, he/she is not allowed to park in a designated parking zone,” said a civic official.Based on the allegations, the KMC car parking department has sent show cause notices to several parking agencies.
According to a KMC source, based on an instruction from mayor Firhad Hakim and MMiC Debashis Kumar, the civic body’s car parking wing has started a surprise check. “We have been asked to conduct raids without disclosing our identity. If any violations are detected, they will be brought to the notice of the civic brass for proper action,” said a KMC car parking department official. The Rashbehari Avenue-Gariahat belt, JL Nehru Road, Park Street, College Street, Bowbazar, Poddar Court and Behala are under lens, said a KMC source.
The Kolkata Traffic Police has received letters from KMC informing them about the raids. The cops have also received a complaint of parking extortion from near Basanti Devi College on Rashbehari Avenue. The incident is being probed.
Apart from KMC, Lalbazar has separately identified parking hot spots from where violations are reported frequently. Special units from Lalbazar have been formed to assist local guards to keep tabs on parking extortion in areas like Camac Street, Park Street, Lenin Sarani, APC Road, Amherst Street, Rajabazar, DH Road and even Garden Reach Road.
The South and East traffic guards have now proposed that each attendant should carry a rate chart with them to avoid confusion. They have also asked for proper display of parking charts all along the parking spot instead of specific points. Moreover, the cops have instructed parking attendants to report all POS device-related issues to both KMC and local police.