Pune: The civic administration has issued a notice to a contractor managing a parking facility in the Mandai area after complaints of overcharging and fleecing at PMC-run parking lots.The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has also decided to conduct surprise inspections at parking lots to assess their overall functioning.The civic body has been receiving frequent complaints of overcharging, particularly at parking lots located in the city’s central areas, where vehicle movement is high. Apart from overcharging, riders have also raised concerns about inadequate lighting, insufficient staff and the presence of anti-social elements in and around these parking facilities.PMC officials stated that a notice has been issued and a response is awaited.“Based on the contractor’s clarification, the administration will decide the further course of action. This is not the first time action has been taken against contractors. Over the past couple of years, PMC has terminated contracts of operators at some parking lots due to discrepancies in their functioning. Our action will continue,” a civic official said.Regular visitors to these parking lots reported that operators often demand extra money without issuing receipts.Ashok Mankar, a resident of Shukrawar Peth, said, “Parking lots should have computer-based systems to collect charges and display available spaces. At present, none of the parking lots has such systems, leading to instances of fleecing. The facilities are also poorly maintained, lacking basic amenities such as washrooms for women and lifts.”
