Collect fee by 24-hour cycle, not on day basis at parking stands, demand public

The public has demanded the Salem Corporation to strictly instruct the staff at the parking stands, especially at the New Bus Stand, to collect parking fees for 24 hours instead of collecting it on a day basis.

The Salem Corporation provides tenders to private individuals to operate parking stands at various locations in the Corporation, including at the Salem New Bus Stand and Old Bus Stand. Earlier, ₹15 was collected for two-wheelers for 24 hours of parking at these stands. However, seven months ago, the Corporation increased the fee for two-wheelers from ₹15 to ₹25 for 24 hours. Later, they started to collect the fee on a daily basis (12 a.m. to 12 a.m.).

A. Kumar, a resident of Ammapet, said that he parked his two-wheeler at the parking stand of the New Bus Stand at 9 p.m. on October 8 and paid ₹25. At 6 a.m. on October 10, when he returned, the parking stand staff demanded him to pay an additional ₹50. “While I pointed out that only 33 hours had passed, the staff adamantly demanded ₹50, claiming that the fee is now collected on a daily basis,” Mr. Kumar said, adding that he had to pay the ₹50, without a choice, and left the stand. “If Corporation officials verified the CCTV footage at the stand, they will find that the my claims are true, Mr. Kumar added. 

Similarly, R. Vellingiri, a resident of Alagapuram, said the staff claimed that even if the vehicle is parked at 9 p.m. today and taken at 6 a.m. the next day, ₹50 should be paid for nine hours, as it is calculated on a daily basis. “The Salem Corporation should prevent this “daylight robbery” and instruct the staff to collect the fee for 24 hours,” he said, and stated that the parking fee is high and must be reduced.

When contacted, the Sooramangalam Zone revenue officials said that parking fees should be collected based on 24 hours only and not on day basis. “We will inquire in this regard,” the officials added.