Free parking from today, GVMC to act tough against violators

Visakhapatnam: In the wake of multiplex complexes, shopping malls and commercial establishments collecting exorbitant parking fee from the general public, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Administration (GVMC) has decided to crack the whip by regulating the fee charged and bring in uniformity among the commercial units.

The new regulation will come into effect from Monday. While 'no fee' is collected for parking vehicles for first 30 minutes at the establishments and multiplexes, one can also enjoy free parking above 30 minutes and up to an hour if the person produces a shopping bill of the respective mall/multiplex for any amount.

For those parking their vehicles at the business outlets for more than an hour, people can still avail free parking facility provided they should produce a bill or a movie ticket purchased in the respective mall/multiplex which exceeds the parking fee charged. However, others will have to pay prescribed parking fee for over an hour-long duration.

Municipal Commissioner G Srijana made it clear that other than the mentioned charges, no other fee should be collected from visitors under the head of facilitation charges, user charges, among a host of others.

An order has been issued to this effect by the Municipal Corporation stating that every commercial unit should submit details pertaining to parking area they have and fee fixed for the same. For better transparency, the unit owners are also being asked to display the same on the premises and a copy be submitted to the respective zonal commissioner. "All commercial establishments, multiplex complexes will be given notices to implement the new regulation within a week," says Vidyullatha, GVMC Chief City Planner.

Zonal Commissioner and Assistant City Planner concerned are authorised to monitor the implementation of parking policy in the commercial establishments and impose penalty if they find any deviations.

Those who violate the regulation will now have to pay steep fines that ranges from Rs 10,000 for the first-time violators to Rs 50,000 for the second time violation.

For repeated violations, the authorities concerned will either seal the premises or impose increased penalty. "Until very recently, we ended up paying Rs 40 for parking fee at a multiplex. Our argument with those who collect the parking fee is of no use as they don't budge at any cost. With the GVMC bringing in uniformity among the commercial outlets by regulating the parking fee, it certainly comes as a huge relief to us," says K Vishnu Kumar, an engineering student.

Movie buffs too heave a sigh of relief as the parking regulation rolled out by the GVMC cheer them up. "Every time we go to a multiplex, we end up exhausting Rs 1,000 minimum that includes snacking and paying parking fee. At least, we can save some amount to an extent now because of the parking fee regulation,"

The ward planning secretariats will maintain the database of parking tariffs being collected in commercial establishments. A toll-free number 18004250009 has been facilitated in order to register complaints if any.

About six shopping malls-cum-multiplex complexes that are going to implement the new regulation.

However, in a city where there are 51 single and double-screen theatres exist, movie-buffs visiting them wonder whether the parking fee will be waived off for them if they continue to watch a film which is not less than two-and-a-half hours. Even the theatre management sought clarity on this from the GVMC.