BANGALORE: Do not pay more than what you are supposed to pay. The next time you step into Cubbon Park, make sure that you pay the parking fee prescribed on the boards put up by the Department of Horticulture. The contractor who is entrusted with the collection of parking fee is allegedly violating the tender norms by collecting excess fee.
The Horticulture Department has leased out the collection of parking fee to one Rajendra Babu of S R B Enterprises for Rs 28.17 lakh. The agreement is valid from January 16 to March 15, 2013. According to the lease agreement accessed by Express, it is found that the contractor is allegedly violating many norms. The lease agreement no where mentions the time limit for parking vehicles.
However, the parking ticket issued to general public mentions a time limit as 2 hours for parking and later on the contractor collects fee on hourly basis. When Express spoke to Dr M Jagadish, Deputy Director of Horticulture, he said, “It is a clear violation of the agreement. We will initiate action against the contractor. The agreement has not specified the time limit for parking.”
Express, in its report on January 30, ‘Cubbon Park Turns Parking Lot for CCL Match’ highlighted the damage caused to the park as thousands of vehicles were parked on the lawns. “A show-cause notice has been sent to the contractor. The report on the damages and it has been sent to the Joint Director (Parks and Garden). They will initiate action against the contractor,” added Jagadish.
Speaking to Express, K Sanjeevi, member of Senior Citizen Walkman Association said, “The contractors are allowing parking of vehicles even in no parking zones. Hence, the agreement should be scrapped.” Jagadish said that 20 water sprinklers priced at Rs 1,500 each have been damaged. Also, a lawn developed recently at a cost Rs 5 lakh, too has been damaged. “Our first priority is to collect the fine for the damages. We may either terminate his agreement or call tender afresh.”
The agreement has some other information which is not clear. According to the agreement, the parking fee for bicycles is Rs 5 , Rs 10 for two-wheelers, Rs 20 for cars, Maruti vans, yellow-board vehicles which are light motor vehicles. The contractor is collecting Rs 60 for maxicab and minivans which also fall under this category. The contractor was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.