Srinagar- In what could be defined as burning a hole in gullible people’s pockets, parking their vehicles at spaces designated under Srinagar Smart City Ltd, employees of a private agency, overseeing parking sites in parts of the city, levy parking charges from individuals at their own free will.
The practice of random charging has led to the parking woes in Srinagar with people blaming the authorities concerned for the mess.
It is worth mentioning that an individual intending to park his car at a designated smart parking lot under a new arrangement has to pay Rs 20 for under 30 minute parking, Rs 40 for under one hour, Rs 70 for 89 minutes, Rs 100 for 119 minutes, Rs 140 for 149 minutes, Rs 180 for 179 minutes, Rs 230 for 209 minutes, Rs 280 for 239 minutes and Rs 340 for 269 minutes.
However, the workers assigned by a private agency for the job in addition to swindling customers, at times resort to manhandling.
Those who leave their cars in designated parking spots are not provided invoices and are instead asked for 10 times the amount of the prescribed rates when they return.
“These employees not only overcharge, but also mistreat consumers who muster courage to object to their conduct. I have also been the victim of random charging. They don’t provide invoices to people at the time of parking their vehicles and are instead asked for 10 times the amount of the prescribed rate when they return,” Syed Ishafq-ul-Lah, a businessman from Srinagar said.
The authorities, he said, instead of taking punitive action against the agency, have maintained silence over the illegal practice, which he claimed was burning holes in the pockets of naive individuals.
Assuring action, Additional Director General, Media, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Rajiv Jain told Kashmir Observer that the matter will be taken up with the concerned agency and that action warranted under law will be taken against it, if found to be at fault.
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