The Hindu

MANGALORE, Jan 5: The Mangalore City Corporation’s proposal to introduce paid parking at eight places here has hit roadblock even before it could take off.

The corporation had called for tenders to award the parking fee collection to eight contractors, separately. One contractor, who had bid the highest amount for an area, has opted to withdraw, while no one came forward to take up the contract for two places, according to sources in the corporation.

As a result, the corporation can introduce the facility only at five places. It has proposed a fee of Rs. 2 for four-wheelers and 50 paisa for two-wheelers for two hours parking.

Corporation Administrator M. Maheshwar Rao and Commissioner K. Krishnappa Poojary have given the approval to the proposed fee and the areas identified for introducing the facility. Orders to this effect will be issued after surveying the area and creating the parking zones at five places, sources told The Hindu.

Sources said the contractor who had agreed to pay Rs. 1.50 lakh a year to the corporation for introducing the facility in front of Government Lady Goshen Hospital Road, near tempo stand, now wanted to withdraw. It had been proposed to reserve the parking space for two-wheelers and four-wheelers in this place.

The corporation had proposed to reserve parking space for four-wheelers at Lalbagh Tower in Ballalbagh and Mannagudde grounds. But the tender did not have any response, sources said.

The contract for the facility at service bus stand, near Nehru Maidan, had been awarded at Rs. 56,000 a year for two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Another place will be in front of Central cinema theatre, near Town Hall, where only four-wheelers can be parked. The contract has been awarded at Rs. 40,000 a year for this place.

Two-wheeler users can park their vehicles on one side of the Lady Goshen Hospital- Central Market Road. The contract has been awarded at Rs. 19,000 a year. The street vendors on this road will be evicted, soon.

On the Jyothi Circle-Hampankatta Road, the space in front of Roopa Hotel will become paid parking zone. The contract has been awarded for Rs. 90,000 a year for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. For parking four-wheelers at Lalbagh, in front of Pabbas cream parlour, the contract has been awarded for Rs. 15,000 a year.

Sources said that tender will be called again in February to introduce the facility at two places. The corporation, earlier, introduced annual paid parking at Gulikatte in Bunder area and at an area opposite to Pereira Hotel in Hampankatta. Fresh tenders will be called in February to continue the facility there, sources said.