Kolkata: The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to launch a digital parking fee collection system in Salt Lake. The cash-based parking fee collection system will be stopped. The authorities are asking the enlisted parking fee collection agencies to collect fees only through digital transfers through smart kiosks, QR based payments or Fastag.Officials said the decision to do away with the previous system has been taken to bring more transparency in the parking fee collection system. Over the years, there have been complaints of motorists being fleeced by parking attendants. There have also been complaints of illegal parking rackets operating in the area with unauthorised attendants duping motorists.“There have been complaints of irregularities in matters of parking fee collection system. By introducing digital parking fee collection system, there will be no ambiguity or confusion as to whether parking fees are properly collected or not. It has been instructed to put up ‘fee parking zone’ sign boards in the demarcated spots for parking along with the penalty chart. Parking attendants will generate the parking fee amount through billing machines. Action will be taken against parking agencies if they continue to give slips to motorists for collecting parking fees,” said a BMC official.As per the prevailing parking rates, the fee is Rs 20 for four-wheeler motor cars for the first hour, followed by Rs 15 for each next hour. For two-wheelers, the rates will be Rs 10 for the first hour followed by Rs 5 for each next hour. For bus or trucks, the rates will be Rs 50 for the first hour followed by Rs 35 for each next hour. As per notification issued by BMC earlier this year, there were 14 fee car parking zones across Salt Lake. Civic officials said that the list of ‘fee parking zones’ are being revised and will be officially notified soon.
