11 FIRs filed against parking agents

NEW DELHI: A day after TOI reported that parking attendants were fleecing people and charging anything from Rs 50 to Rs 250 at various markets owing to the festive rush, North Delhi Municipal Corporation filed 11 FIRs against parking contractors on Monday.
Some parking contractors in Karol Bagh, Rajendra Nagar and Chandni Chowk were also blacklisted after a surprise inspection by corporation officials on Monday morning.
Commissioner P K Gupta said a hike in parking rates is in the works but overcharging is a crime. "We have filed FIRs against parking contractors. In the Karol Bagh market, parking attendants were charging much more than the rates. The violations were many- information wasn't displayed, attendants were not in uniform and more cars were parked than was permitted," he said.
While North Corporation's standing committee has cleared the proposal for hiking parking rates, attendants at many markets have already started charging the proposed rates. On Sunday, TOI spoke to many distressed shoppers complaining of overcharging. Several complaints were posted on the councillors' and the corporation's Facebook page. "The attendants were asking for Rs 100 for two hours at Karol Bagh. It's ridiculous," said Rohtash Singh, a businessman.
The official parking rates are Rs 10 for the first10 hours and Rs 20 for the next 10 hours. But now, North Corporation is mulling Rs 20 for the first one hour and Rs 10 for every subsequent hour. "All councillors and officials in the Karol Bagh zone have been instructed to carry out regular inspections at markets to ensure people aren't fleeced. You can also file a police complaint against any such malpractice and action will be taken," said Rajesh Bhatia, Karol Bagh zone committee chairman.
Parking contractors have been told to put up information boards with their numbers and parking rates. South Corporation officials are also cracking down on parking contractors but no FIRs were filed. "Zonal officials are told to keep a watch over these contractors; if they are overcharging, their contracts will be terminated immediately," said Subhash Arya, leader of the house, South Corporation.