PMC notices yielding much-needed results

Pune: At the behest of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) City Improvement Committee (CIC) directives, the administration had sent notices to 30 malls to provide free parking to visitors. Within just few days, Puneites are saying on social media that they are seeing results. Two such posts claimed that one mall in Aundh and another in Chatuhshringi area have started offering free parking. Though PMC administration has announced that they do not have mechanism to check whether malls are implementing it or not, the receipts showing nil parking charges are being shared across social media p. 

Last week, the CIC took a decision that malls-multiplexes should have to provide free parking and issued directives to PMC’s building permission and development department to issue notices to malls.

Since last three days, PMC is serving notices to malls and multiplexes.
 
An officials from PMC’s building permission and development said, “The PMC does not have any legal base to serve notices to malls. However, PMC’s legal department has given us a reference of one of the High Court decisions, which we have mentioned in the notice. We have also mentioned that strict action will be taken if malls-multiplexes fails to obey the order.”

As per the PMC officials, they have mentioned Hyderabad High Court’s order in this regard. In 2003, acting on the petition filed in Hyderabad HC, the court had ruled that visitors visiting malls should be entitled to free parking.

CIC Chairman corporator Amol Balwadkar said, “From last three days, the administration is serving notices to malls. Corporation is not checking whether malls are following the order. However, visitors are uploading videos and receipts on social media. Now, people are aware of the notices. Therefore, mall administrations are not charging parking fees.”

He said, “Phoenix mall, E-square, Pavilion mall, Westend malls are not charging parking fee. I will take a review next week of implementation of order.”  

According to PMC’s traffic management department, the civic body surveyed 37 malls and multiplexes in the city and checked the status of parking. Corporation found that only ten malls located in Kharadi, Wadgaonsheri, Kondhwa, Wakadewadi, Kothrud, Lohegaon, Chandannagar, Satara Road, Aundh were providing free parking, while Abhiruchi Mall located in Sinhagad Road was charging Rs 2.50 for two wheelers and Rs 5 for four wheelers. Remaining were charging minimum Rs 10 to maximum Rs 30 for two-wheeler parking and minimum Rs 20 to maximum Rs 50 for four-wheeler parking.