PCB bags record parking contract

PUNE: The Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) has secured a record contract worth Rs 1.08 crore for the pay-and-park scheme in Pune Camp. The amount exceeds last year's figure of Rs 77 lakh by more than 30 per cent, and comes as a big surprise even to cantonment officials, who have been under pressure due to disputes regarding compensation of the existing contractor.
According to R.G.Gongale, PCB chief revenue superintendent, the Rs 1.08 crore figure for the 19 lots of pay-and-park spots at Pune Camp is the highest ever won by the board.
"It is the result of tough competition. Vehicles plying in Pune Camp is increasing rapidly and this has led to an increase in the quoted amount," he said. Five parties had bid for the contract and the highest amount was quoted by a Mumbai-based firm under Kushal Shetty.
Shetty will manage the lots for a period of one year beginning April 1. An equitable rate of Rs 2 for two-wheelers and Rs 5 for four-wheelers (for the first hour) will be levied for the parking lots.
The record amount came as a surprise as the PCB had a long-standing dispute with the party running the pay-and-park system currently. Shri Bhavani Builders and Developers, the current party, had accused the PCB of stopping it from running the scheme in four major places. The matter is still pending before the board.
"This time, we have divided the parking slots into schedule 2 and schedule 3 slots for the sake of official convenience. While schedule 2 slots have been allotted in bulk, those of schedule 3 were individually quoted," said Gongale.
Under schedule 2 are part of M.G. road between Aurora Towers and Sterling Centre, Bootee street, J.J. Garden, Parsi Agiary gate, various other lanes in M.G. road, Moledina road, Tarapore road, Rani Laxmibai garden, Saifee street, G.T. road, Bombay Garage, Coyajee road, and Hidayatullah road. Under schedule 3 are Fashion street, Abaji Maidan, Chhatrapati Shivaji market and Kumbharbowdi market. In these places, the bids were put separately and the contract has been allotted for a sum of Rs 15 lakh.
Gongale added that strict surveillance would be maintained to ensure that customers are not over-charged or face any other hassle at the pay-and-park lots. Regarding the dispute with the existing contractor, the CRS said the matter is for the board to
decide.