the goan I network
MARGAO
Haphazard parking and parking in no-parking zones in the commercial capital may attract heavy penalty if the Margao Municipal Council has its way as it has mulled levying a hefty fine of Rs 300 as against the sum of Rs 180.
The reason behind the proposed steep hike in the fine for vehicular parking offense has nothing to do with the city fathers’ concern for the growing traffic and parking mess in the commercial capital, but its is more to do with economics.
Of the Rs 180 fine imposed for wrong and haphazard parking, Rs 100 goes to the traffic police as challan amount under the Motor Vehicles Act, with the balance Rs 80 comes to the MMC kitty as vehicle lifting charges.
Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes and Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai say the entire exercise of lifting vehicles with the help of a municipal vehicle and manpower is not economically sustainable given the huge cost involved in carrying out the exercise.
The CO pointed out that the civic body coughs up around Rs 6.58 lakh annually to pay the six workers, one driver and fuel for lifting of rule-flouting vehicles.
As against this, the revenue generated by way of lifting of vehicles is pegged at a meagre Rs 1.66 lakh, which is a huge difference between the revenue and expenditure.
The Chairperson and the CO sough to justify the hike saying the workers engaged in lifting vehicles will be given a target of lifting 50 vehicles a day, which can generate monthly revenue of Rs 10,000, barely making the exercise self-sustaining.
When the media later drew attention of the Chairperson that the proposed hike may be steep given that the municipality has failed to put in place parking arrangements, Babita said hike can be reconsidered to Rs 250 per vehicle. She, however, made it clear that the municipality will either go in for a hike or discontinue lifting of vehicles.
Meanwhile, after councillor Arthur D’Silva raised a query over the fate of the multi-storeyed parking project behind the MMC building, Babita said the council is seized of the matter and will take a further call soon.
