The Southern Railways on Friday informed the Kerala High Court that the contractor who was appointed to collect parking fee at the Ernakulam Junction railway station had violated the conditions in the agreement by overcharging and refusing to issue computer generated slip for the parking fee.
In an affidavit, the railways pointed out that an inquiry had revealed that all the complaints against the excess collection of parking fees at Ernakulam Junction station rang true. It pointed out that though the contractor had been warned and imposed penalties, he continued to breach the contract terms. The contractor was also found to have flouted one of the important clauses in the agreement, which provided insurance coverage to the parked vehicles, parking shed and issue of computerised receipts.
The inquiry further found that none of the employees of the contractor were wearing name badges. The customers with two-wheelers were being charged with a minimum of Rs. 10, even for half an hour. The tariff board was found hidden under the bushes beneath a pillar in the parking area.
The parking fee collected was above the approved rates. Also, the contractor did not keep the counter foils as records. The report recommended that the system of collecting of parking fee should be computerised and that the contractor be blacklisted.
The allegation of the contractor that the space provided to the petitioner was less than what was mentioned in the agreement was incorrect, said the Railways. In any case, this could not be a ground for unscrupulous charging of parking fee and misbehaviour towards the public.
