Hike in parking charges may add to woes

Mumbai: A four-fold hike in parking rates across Mumbai is on the cards.

With soaring prices of fuel, the motorists were already feeling the heat, however, with a hike in parking charges, it may just get tougher.

Business manager Yogesh Ambe's drive to work comes to a sudden halt every time he reaches a parking lot.

Struggling to get a parking slot isn’t the only hassle. Ambe fears, a possible hike in parking charges will further add to his commuting woes.

"I bought a new car, but I may have to re-think. This hike isn’t fair,” says Yogesh Ambe.

The Mumbai municipal corporation plans to increase the current pay and park fee for cars from Rs five to Rs 20 and at least Rs 40 for heavy vehicles, which is almost a four-fold hike.

While pay and park charges have not been changed since in the last 12-years, officials argue that this is a big step towards decongesting the island city.

"For a bike owner, Rs five is nothing," says Additional Municipal Commissioner, R A Rajeev.

Motorists associations however question the logic of such a solution.

"How many new car parks have we added? We pay so many taxes per car. How much more should we pay,” says President, Western India Automobile Association, Nitin Dossa.

It is said that every inch of space in Mumbai comes at a premium. Meanwhile, if the proposed hike gets a green signal, one may have to re-think taking ones car for any shopping trip.

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