The Hindu 11.07.2016
DDA’s ‘gifts’ not enough for cash-strapped civic bodies
Over 50 parking sites were handed over recently to help boost revenue
The Delhi Development Authority may have gifted the three municipal corporations over 50 parking sites recently to help them boost revenue, but for the cash-strapped civic bodies these won’t make much difference.
The DDA had announced on April 27 that it would transfer the work of operating and maintaining its parking facilities in commercial centres to the municipalities in the interest of better and more efficient services.
In many markets and commercial centres, the DDA owned the land, while the municipal corporation concerned carried out sanitation work. The parking was outsourced to a private agency.
“…It has been decided to transfer this revenue stream from parking to the municipal corporations, which would boost the revenues of the Corporation as the services transferred to them involve substantial expenditure,” a DDA statement said.
While the corporations have no ownership rights over the land, a total of 54 parking sites, both currently in use and vacant, were recently transferred to the corporations for operation and maintenance.
The North and East Delhi municipal corporations, which have been undergoing a severe financial crisis, have been handed over 15 and 11 sites respectively. However, the addition is unlikely to make a dent in their mounting woes.
Not quite enough
“These additional parking lots will not have a major impact on our revenue. It is a welcome step nonetheless. What we need is the Delhi government to release the thousands of crores it owes to the corporations,” said Parvesh Wahi, chairperson of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is the only financially-stable civic agency, has been given 28 parking lots by the DDA.
Subhash Arya, Leader of the House in the SDMC, said the parking sites would not make much of a difference, but the transfer from DDA would improve services.
“All parking lots in an area would be maintained by one agency, making the delivery of services more efficient,” said Mr. Arya, adding that the SDMC made Rs.30 crore to Rs.35 crore from its 78 parking lots annually.
Among the parking sites transferred are those in Nehru Place and Janakpuri in South Delhi, Rajendra Place and Netaji Subhash Place in North Delhi, and Laxmi Nagar and Karkardooma in East Delhi.
At
present, the parking sites are being integrated into the existing system
of the corporations, before they are outsourced to private agencies.
