Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, May 23: It seems like there is no authority at the railway station of the city to address the plight of the passengers. The Railway officials flaunt arrogance inside the station, while outside some others are fleecing people in the name of parking fee.

Generally in airports and railway stations, no parking fee is collected from vehicles if they just drop or pick passengers and move without waiting. But in the city railway station if a vehicle enters the railway station area it is for a parking fee. This is applicable for taxis also.

The charges collected are Rs 6 for two-wheelers per hour, Rs 12 for 12 hours and Rs 25 for 24 hours, for cars it is Rs 25, 50 and 95 respectively. For heavy vehicles, the rate is Rs 120 and 240. For taxis the rate is Rs 25 per day and for auto rickshaw it is Rs 12 per day.

There is no rate list for parking fees displayed in the vicinity of the railway station. If the staff who collect parking fees are questioned they give some lame excuses. So most of the people do not argue with them and part with whatever they demand.

Rajesh Kundar, who has the contract for parking fees says, “I have to pay Rs 2500 to the railway department every day. For four staff members Rs 2800 should be given as daily wages. If I get a Rs 6,000 collection I can save something. After Covid six trains have not yet started running. I have taken the contract six months ago and already invested Rs 3.75 lac. Getting back this amount is becoming difficult.”

It seems there is no solution in sight for this issue. Only protests by citizens or organizations and vehicle drivers who access the parking area may provide some relief.