Chandigarh speaks out against parking hike

The contentious rise in parking rates across 25 parking lots of Chandigarh is refusing to abate, going by the impasse between the Municipal Corporation counsellors and the MC administration What was meant to be a move to 'smarten' parking lots in city, while also increasing revenue for the cash-strapped MC, has gone down badly with Chandigarh residents, who are paying 20 times more than last year. None of what was promised in the name of 'smart' parking lots by the company hired by the MC, has been delivered. Except for electronic parking tickets, and uniformed attendants, nothing else has changed. And these, if you ask citizens are not the deliverables that make commuting, and parking any better for them. Haphazardly parked vehicles, no willingness of attendants to assist in maneuvering vehicles in and out of toll gates, spaces for cars being taken by two-wheelers, discourteous parking staff, are issues that continue to ruffle citizens.

Sloppy, not smart is what Chandigarh is paying for in the name of parkingEven as the Mayor, along with his league of counsellors, and MC Commissioner bump their heads over the issue, we launch a series of articles where Chandigarh residents speak out if the hike is justified, and 'smart' enough.