The Hindu : New Delhi News : Free parking to continue temporarily at Khan Market

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Monday, Apr 11, 2011
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Free parking to continue temporarily at Khan Market

Staff Reporter

Status quo in place till May 18, the next date of hearing on the traders' plea

Free parking:A view of the Khan Market parking in New Delhi on Sunday.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court's decision this past week to stay the New Delhi Municipal Council's decision to levy a parking fee at Khan Market in response to a petition filed by the Khan Market Trader's Association has spelt temporary relief for shoppers and traders. The free parking status quo at the market would be in place till May 18, the next date of hearing on the traders' plea.

The civic agency had taken a decision under the direction of the Environment and Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to implement the paid parking facility in the market from April 1 but had deferred its implementation for a week owing to non-completion of the tendering process to rope in a parking contractor and fix new parking rates.

The EPCA had suggested keeping high parking charges of about Rs.50 per hour to discourage patrons from bringing their cars to the market. But according to Khan Market Traders' Association, which has been managing the free parking for both the market visitors and shop owners, parking at the market has been free for the past 60 years and the change from free parking to paid parking was “not based on any rationale and was unjustified”.

While the civic body had already begun the tendering process for finalising the parking contractor and rates, the Khan Market Traders' Association had filed an appeal to the civic body and the EPCA against implementation of any such plan on March 22. Following no action on the same, the traders finally moved the Delhi High Court.

Khan Market Traders' Association president Sanjiv Mehra said: “It is not that Khan Market traders are not environmentally conscious. We are not against any environment-friendly proposal but it has to have a rationale. The EPCA'S concern that free parking at Khan Market is attracting more cars and customers at the market and so it should be turned to paid parking is misplaced. This market has had free parking since its inception in 1950.”

“We do not want a situation where a parking contractor mafia is established at Khan Market as is the case in other markets where land is allotted to park 10 cars but we find 200 cars illegally parked there. It is a much better idea to create a proper multi-level parking facility there. At present, providing free parking is the right and privilege of our customers and we as traders would try to protect it,” he added.

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