Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to depute their own employees to manage the Mandai-based Late Satishseth Dhondiba Misal Indoor Parking Lot as the contractor, who managed it earlier, had failed to pay arrears to the corporation as per the contract.
This move comes in the wake of heavy rush in the area because of the Ganesh festival. Last month, PMC started a drive of inspecting all the indoor ‘Pay and Park’ lots to check whether contractors are following rules and regulations, including charging standard rates of parking set by the corporation. PMC has already sent show-cause notices to defaulting contractors. The corporation has given 25 parking lots to private contractors to run on a five-year contract basis.
In this drive, the civic body found that the Misal parking lot has not paid Rs 46 lakh of the outstanding amount. The parking lot was closed on August 8.
However, with Ganesh festival, which began from September 2, devotees coming to the area were facing parking issues.
PMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Muthe, who is handling land management department, said, “To avoid any inconvenience to four-wheelers parking in the Mandai area, we have taken the decision to reopen and run the parking lot by deputing corporation employees. It is only for two months. Meanwhile, we will carry out fresh tender process to give operation of this parking to a private firm on a contract basis. PMC doesn’t have the manpower to run a parking lot.”
