Parking penalty: Citizens take potshots at civic body

As Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) crackdown on people who parked illegally in no-parking zones continued apace on Monday, the civic body received mixed reaction from Mumbaikars. While some welcomed the decision, many others took to Twitter to pan the sheer arbitrariness of the whole action.

On Monday, the civic body collected a total of Rs 1,70,340 fine from the citizens for parking in a 500-mm periphery of civic parking lots which are now 'no parking' zones. The traffic police towed 80 vehicles including 35 four-wheelers, 3 three-wheelers, and 42 two-wheelers. Thus, in two days, the BMC has collected a total fine of 3,50,340 rupees fine from seven traffic zones encompassing the whole of Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the BMC is yet to appoint a contractor to collect parking charges in three public parking places. Hence, the Additional Municipal Commissioner has announced free parking in these areas till a contractor is appointed. This brings down the number of free parking places under BMC's jurisdiction to ten.

However, residents are not amused. The astronomical fines, as well as lack of public awareness, had ticked the citizens off.

One such irked resident Vinay Nandu, took to Twitter and wrote: "No Helmet fine 1000/- Parking at No Parking fine 1000/- (In Mumbai the fine is supposed to go up to Rs 15,000/- Vehicle in no entry Fine 1000/- Triple seat driving Fine 2000/- Plastic use Fine 5000/- keep same fine for govt officers not performing duties (sic)".

While another resident Hashim Y J (@has2912) tweeted took potshots at the civic body.

"So nice of @mybmc n @MCGM_BMC to charge 10000/- for no parking of a moveable vehicle now what about big business like bag chinese food Vada Pav cart been run fullfledge on same roads n footpaths???Will @ShivSena run #BMC fine them also or arrest them N make way 4 #Mumbaikars ? (sic)", read his tweet.

Meanwhile, RTI activist Kamlakar Shenoy has come down heavily on how citizens are arbitrarily fined without providing the supporting parking infrastructure.

"We need to challenge this arbitrary penalty. No board has been put up at prominent corners, neither did they have ameasure to make people aware of the details of the numbers of parking available, or the owner of a particular parking lot. What are the alternative parking spaces available and if the parking lot is full?" questioned Shenoy.

He quipped that the civic body should also have a criterion or penalty fixed for ward officers, Deputy Municipal Commissioners, and senior police officials for allowing encroachments on roads and footpaths to continue unabated. He opined that no illegality can take place without the joint connivance of police and BMC who are spared and protected.

Is their a criterion and working done to decide the penalty charged?

Meanwhile, leader of opposition in the BMC and Congress leader also twitted against the order.

'#BMC collected 1.8 lakh fine on the first day of new parking policy. quite upset with the way administration has implemented the decision by not taking us as well as people in confidence. still maintain my previous stand, it is wrong to penalise people without providing them option (sic)', tweeted Raja.