Hyderabad: Parking fee at Sanjeevaiah illegal

Hyderabad: Violating norms, the contractor at Sanjeevaiah Park has been running the parking lot though his agreement ended in February last year. The issue has been taken to the notice of the HMDA which has simply ignored it.

There are allegations that the contractor, K. Eshwar Chowdary, charges double the permitted fee for vehicle parking.

According to sources, HMDA granted the licence for running the parking lot on August 6, 2014, for a sum of Rs 15,60,009 and ended in February 2018. HMDA gave an extension till the next tender is finalised and authorised Mr Chowdary to collect the parking fee.

On December 23, the HMDA cancelled the extension and declared parking at Sanjeevaiah Park free.

However, Mr Chowdary continued to collect the parking fee. Interestingly, the agency has been collecting twice the amount prescribed in the tender agreement. A visit to the parking lot showed the agency was collecting  Rs 20 for two-wheelers when the fee was Rs 10 for eight hours, and Rs 30 for cars against the specified amount of Rs 20.

This correspondent asked a visitor, K. Abilash Reddy, about the free parking. After having paid the contractor, Mr Reddy said neither the HMDA nor the Buddha Purnima Project had put a notice of regarding free parking.

Asked about this, an official said the HMDA would probe the issue and charge the contractor Rs 10,000 for every incident. An official said the contractor would be blacklisted and the HMDA would lodge a police complaint against him.