To curb private car park mafia:

New CMC parking regulations soon

By Ananada Kannangaea

To curb the mafia by vehicle park owners, the CMC will introduce a Parking Regulation System (PRS) in the near future to protect motorists from private vehicle owners.

CMC, Director Engineering (Traffic Design and Road Safety)

K.A.D.N. Wickramaratne said using public transport is the best solution without using their own vehicles, so that less vehicles will be parked.

He also said buildings will be constructed within the city limits to be used as shopping malls and a few floors will be utilised to park vehicles at reasonable rates.

We wish that many office workers park vehicles in this building and travel to Colombo by bus.

Unlike in other cities, a large number of vehicle parks are located within the Colombo city limits. According to a survey, conducted by a group of students of the Colombo University, over eight large vehicle parks and about 20 small vehicle parks are being operated by private owners.

In addition the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) also operates about 1000parking slots within city limits.

The research also found that almost all vehicle park owners earn lavishly because they charge exorbitant amounts. Having a vehicle, does not mean that the owner is wealthy.

A majority of middle class vehicle owners have purchased vehicles after paying heavy downpayments. Vehicle owners are of the view that car park owners were fleecing innocent vehicle owners who have no option but to pay the rates that are demanded.

Why can't responsible officials of the CMC look into this and instruct vehicle park owners to refrain from charging exorbitant rates, is what is in the minds of the public.

Rukshan Mudalige vehicle owner and an employee of a shoe company, says that he parks his vehicle in a park next to the Liberty Plaza around 7.30 am and leaves office at 7.00 pm.

He has to pay about Rs. 450 a day which he said was absolutely fleecing drivers like him. The vehicle park charges Rs. 50 for the first two hours and Rs. 200 for a maximum of eight hours. Rs. 50 is charged for every additional hour. The time has come for the CMC to visit car parks in the city and look into this 'mafia'.

One could say that since land value in Colombo was high, that current parking charges were reasonable, but vehicle owners think otherwise.

A vehicle owner said "Today vehicle park owners can be compared to doctors engaged in private practise. Even doctors fleece patients".

The Sunday Observer last week visited vehicle parks in the city to meet owners and people who park vehicles.

People who work in Colombo offices park vehicles between 7.00 am and 8.00 pm.

A banker Somaratna Gamage said he parks his vehicle at the large car park opposite Lake House. The parking charges for the first two hours were Rs. 50, while Rs. 150 is charged for eight hours. If the time is exceeded, Rs. 30 has to be paid for each additional hour. Vehicle owners are perturbed and question whether such a levy is reasonable.

"Why can't the authorities take action against this mafia?" they ask.

The largest vehicle park in Colombo is opposite Lake House. The persons who look after the park say that over 200 vehicles are parked there daily. The owners collect about Rs. 50,000 from vehicle owners on a single day.

One could say that collecting such a large amount from vehicle owners is not reasonable and CMC authorities must find a solution to this.

There are vehicle parks near the city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and park owners charge reasonably to encourage motorists to park their vehicles and travel to the city by train or other public transport. Many small scale private vehicle park owners pay taxes to the CMC for maintaining vehicle parks, while some others have put up vehicle parks in their own gardens without spending a red cent.

When we visited several vehicle parks in Colombo Fort, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya and also the one opposite Lake House in Colombo, it was found that private vehicle park owners earn a colossal sum of money!

Some vehicle park owners charge Rs. 40 for the first hour and thereafter Rs. 30 each for additional hours.

The authorities have turned a blind eye where car parks are concerned.

CMC, Commissioner, Bhadrani Jayawardane said a large number of workers have been deployed to maintain over 1000 parking slots and the CMC also spends a large sum of money to maintain them. She said over 250,000 vehicle come into the city daily and 90 percent of them are parked in private vehicle parks.

The charges of CMC maintained parking slots are reasonable since the objective is to provide facilities to vehicle owners and not to earn money in an unreasonable manner.

A school teacher, Ravindra Peris said a majority of vehicle owners who come to the city everyday are aware that most private vehicle parks earn exorbitant levies from vehicle parking. They say that this is unfair and the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) or any other authority should immediately look into this.

A mercantile employee, K. Gamini said he parks his vehicle in a private park, near R.A. De Mawatha, Kollupitiya and they charge Rs. 60 for the first two hours and thereafter an additional Rs. 40 for each hour,".

"As there is no other alternative, I have to spend nearly Rs. 400 a day and hope the CMC immediately direct park owner to stop this unfair collection," he said. Nimal Punchihewa of Kadawatha said there are many lands owned by the State in Colombo and urged the authorities to convert them into vehicle parks.

"Then they can charge reasonable amounts from vehicle owners".

He also said the vehicle park opposite Lake House was as it has full of pot holes and ruts was not maintained properly, although they charged an exorbitant fee. A school van driver P.R. Gamage said the charges of the Fort vehicle park was not reasonable and urged the CMC to grant relief.

He also urged the Western Province Governor who has more powers than the Colombo Mayor to look into this problem. Kanthi Padmalatha, a state official said she normally parks her vehicle in a state-owned car park in Bambalapitiya and said that they too charge Rs. 180 as parking fee for eight hours. "As a result I have to spend over Rs. 2,500 a month for vehicle parking and this amount is high, considering my monthly income".

Of the two private car parks in Station Road, Bambalapitiya,

one park charged reasonably, but the other charged exorbitant amounts.

"I hope the CMC would visit this vehicle park and direct the owners not to charge such high amounts", he said.