The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) earned ₹1.7 lakh in fines on the second day of implementing ‘no-parking zones’ in the city. The corporation zeroed in on 80 illegally parked vehicles — 35 four-wheelers, three three-wheelers and 42 two-wheelers — at the designated seven zones. By the end of Sunday, the BMC had earned ₹1.8 lakh in fines, and its total collection is at ₹3,50,340.
With the inclusion of a parking lot in Kandivali, the new policy is being implemented in 27 public parking lots. Action will be taken on the unauthorised vehicles parked within 500 metres of these spots. Heavy vehicles parked will be fined ₹15,000, medium-sized will be charged ₹11,000 while light vehicles like cars and jeeps will have to pay ₹10,000. The fine is lower for three- and two-wheelers.
Meanwhile, the process of appointing a contractor at three more public parking lots is in the final phase. Parking in these places will be free till the appointment, taking the number of free-parking slots in the city to 10.
Resistance to the new rules continues. Congress corporator from Bandra Asif Zakaria said at Hill Road on Sunday, a BMC staffer was arguing with a woman who was in tears over the issue. “People are being made to go to an ATM to pay the fine in cash. Ward offices have deployed all their labour on this job alone, but how are they going to sustain this drive? There is so much other work to be done during the monsoon.” Mr. Zakaria also asked how the BMC plans to prevent hawkers from taking up the space freed under the new rules.
Others have objections to the amount. “A fine of ₹10,000 is autocratic,” said Bharatiya Janata Party corporator Sandeep Patel. “The motive is correct, but where will people go? The BMC should have consulted people first, heard their objections.”
On Sunday, D-ward residents had protested the rules at the ward office, following which action against illegal parking was halted. “Today we have resumed the action. Those who have objections have been asked to take it up with the commissioner,” V.P. Mote, assistant municipal commissioner of the ward, said.
Another officer from K-West ward said the two parking lots in his ward are free and people should not have any problem going there to park their vehicles.
