Mumbai: Despite the suspension of A Ward’s assistant engineer for unlawfully extending parking contracts, pay-and-park services in the area remain operational. Former BJP corporator from Colaba, Makarand Narwekar, has urged the BMC to halt allegedly illegal pay-and-park operations and make parking free for citizens until parking policy is revised and fresh tenders are awarded.
Narwekar in his letter to Muncipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani questioned, "If the extensions were wrong and officials were suspended for the same, then why have the parking operations not been halted? Who is accountable for allowing these operations to continue under illegal extensions?" He further demanded the immediate suspension of all the pay and park operations in A ward that are continuing under irregular extensions.
"Parking should be free for Mumbaikars until the policy is revised and new tenders are awarded. Citizens shouldn’t be charged for services of questionable legality," said Narwekar.
He added that the continued operation of these services, despite BMC admitting the extensions were invalid, indicates a possible nexus between senior civic officials and contractors.
Last week, the BMC took punitive action against the agency managing a paid parking facility in the Kala Ghoda area for charging parking fees in excess of the officially approved rates. A police complaint has also been filed against the employees of the agency for illegally collecting parking fees. In addition, the process of blacklisting the agency has also been initiated.
