The Hindu        19.09.2014 

Parking a costly affair in South Delhi

Soon visitors to South Delhi will have to pay double for a parking spot, with the Standing Committee of the local civic body on Thursday passing a proposal to hike rates.

Parking rates will be hiked from Rs.10 to Rs.20 per hour for cars and from Rs.7 to Rs.10 per hour for two-wheelers. The Standing Committee of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation cleared the hike, hoping that it would make a dent in the parking mafia.

While the Opposition Congress objected to it, the BJP-led Corporation passed the plan and agreed to have a discussion in the House regarding the same.

Leader of the House Subhash Arya said: “After we have a discussion in the House, the Commissioner will present the preamble and it will be put into force.”

He added that the tender process for new parking lots are ongoing and the contracts will be allotted as per the new rates. Mr. Arya added that the illegal mafia that runs parking in Delhi would be hit as the hike in rates would help contractors earn a realistic amount.

However, Leader of the Opposition Farhad Suri said the move would not really have an impact on the parking mafia. “This move will just put additional burden on the public and the parking mafia will continue to rake in huge amounts of money,” said Mr. Suri.

‘This move will just put additional burden on the public and the parking mafia will continue to rake in huge amounts of money’