RailEnquiry

By Joseph Mampilli - ALUVA

28th December 2012 08:39 AM

Almost half of the frontage of Aluva railway station is given for parking facility. But the users have been experiencing problems and complaining for long that the parking lot is controlled by a mafia.

The main allegation over the parking contractor, recently deputed by the Railways, is that he and his men are charging two to three times more than what is permitted by the Railway Administration as parking fees. The parking space is given on contract every year. The contract for this year is given to M P Sarasan, said station manager K M Rahim, while referring to the malpractices reported by the users.

“First-timers are the worst affected. Sometimes the minimum charge collected from a car owner is more than `25 while the approved rate for two hours is `20,” says Rajan Jeyush from Perumbavoor, who has been using the facility for quite a few months. “Receipts are not issued, and if demanded, the fee collector will have only rough words in reply,” says Rajan.

The pages of the complaint book at the station is almost filled. Rahim said that complaints about the conduct of the new contractor have been directed to higher authorities in Chennai. At least 50 complaints have been sent, but sadly no action has been taken so far.

“Apart from collecting exorbitant charges, he never issues receipts. The contractor is supposed to issue computer-generated receipts stating the registered number of the vehicle, money collected and the time of parking. He neither issues receipt nor files proper reports to me,” says the station manager.

As per the contract, Sarasan had been asked to build a new shed for two-wheelers and to insist on uniforms forthe caretakers of the parking lot. But these have been overlooked.

To protest against charging exorbitant fees,  DYFI members have demolished a temporary shed built without the permission of the railway authorities.