Pay-park: Palike proposes, minister disposes

In a repeat of the “Pay and Park” drama, Transport and Bangalore in-charge Minister R Ashoka on Saturday declared that the scheme will not be introduced across the City, and the tendering process will be stopped.

But strangely, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) spent the best part of the day going through the tenders.

Now, it appears that the Palike’s entire exercise to introduce the scheme on 37 roads has gone down the drain. The minister gave no scope for any confusion when he told this newspaper that the BJP’s policy never favoured a pay-and-park system for Bangalore.

“Whatever existed earlier would continue but no fresh tenders would be called for,” he asserted.

Ashoka said he would see that the tendering process of pay-and-park at all the 37 roads would be scrapped. But the system would continue on Brigade Road.
The minister reminded that the BJP had opposed the pay-and-park vehemently when it was introduced even in residential areas.

The minister had spoken to the media on the scheme but not with the BBMP Commissioner Bharatlal Meena, who was caught unawares when asked whether the pay-and-park system would be introduced.

Then he was told about the minister’s declaration at a public function.

The commissioner said the BBMP will do as the government wished. Interestingly, the tendering process for 28 roads concluded on Saturday when the minister’s announcement came. Contracts have already been awarded to nine contractors.

The scheme was to cover Residency Road, Sadashivanagar swimming pool area and Ali Asgar Road.  Two-wheelers had to pay Re 1 for half-an-hour, Rs 2 for one hour and Rs 5 for two hours. On the other hand, four-wheelers had to pay Rs 5 for half-an-hour, Rs 10 for one hour, Rs 15 for two hours.

“Somebody parking a vehicle for more than two hours would have had to pay penalty, which could be charged as per the KMC Act,” said sources. The traffic police will remove the vehicle if it is found to be parked for more than two hours, the sources added.