Metro station parking lot operators demand excess fee, say passengers

Bengaluru: At a time when Namma Metro is seeing increased patronage, passengers are irked over being charged excess fees at station parking lots. Commuters say at many stations, neither the parking fees fixed by BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd) are displayed, nor do operators issue tickets.According to the fees fixed by BMRCL, two-wheelers have to be charged Rs 15 for the first four hours and an additional Rs 5 for every subsequent hour. A maximum of Rs 30 can be collected for parking a two-wheeler for the entire day. For cars, Rs 30 is charged for the first four hours and Rs 10 for every hour thereafter. The maximum fee for car parking is Rs 60.Sujay Suresh Shet, in his complaint to the public grievances cell of the chief minister’s office, said on November 1, a person collecting parking fee at Chickpet Metro station demanded Rs 150 from him instead of Rs 40. Shet had parked his car at the station for five hours. He demanded action against those fleecing Metro passengers.A few days ago, this reporter parked a bike at Kempegowda Interchange station parking lot, in Majestic, for close to an hour. The staffer on duty demanded Rs 20 as parking fee. Asked about the excess fee, he replied, “For two hours, the minimum fee is Rs 20. Thereafter, it goes up for every hour.”When the reporter insisted that the staffer show the fee chart, he said: “If you hold a Metro card, it is Rs 15, or else Rs 20.” Other people who had parked their vehicles too could be seen arguing with the fee collector over the same issue. Rakshith Gowda, a passenger, said: “BMRCL officials should ensure that rates are displayed at the parking lot and fees are collected as per the rule. At present, there are no checks on how these parking lots operate.”BMRCL managing director Anjum Parwez said: “We urge Metro passengers to register complaints when operators demand excess parking fee. BMRCL will take necessary action.” It’s said BMRCL generates Rs 6-7 crore in revenue from its parking lots every year.No space for car parking on Whitefield line As per the information shared on the BMRCL website, parking fees are being collected at 33 of the 66 operational Metro stations. At present, parking facilities have been provided for 11,495 two-wheelers and 1,724 cars. On the extended Purple Line from Benniganahalli to Kadugodi (Whitefield), Parwez said that at some stations, parking fees are being collected and tender process is under way for the rest of the stations.Incidentally, as many as 14 stations that were opened this year, including Benniganahalli and Challaghatta, don’t have parking space for cars.