CMDA takes up the role of traffic policeman by locking vehicles, imposing fine in CMBT

‘No Parking’ boards nowhere to be seen

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has now allegedly taken up the role of traffic policeman by imposing fine and locking up vehicles for parking in allegedly ‘No Parking Zone’ in Koyambedu bus terminus.

Unsuspecting visitors to CMBT were in for a surprise on Monday when they found their vehicles chained and a demand to pay Rs 20 as fine for parking their vehicles in alleged ‘No Parking Zone.’

“The ‘No Parking’ board is nowhere to be seen and workers manning the parking lot are demanding Rs 20 as fine,” said a visitor who has come to collect his relative from the bus terminus

When questioned about the legality of such a measure by the parking lot workers, CMDA’s superintendent engineer Om Narayanan said, “We have issued an order not to lock the vehicles in the morning. The measure was taken up as people were not parking their vehicles in the parking lot,” he said.

But when questioned that this is the role of traffic police and not CMDA to levy fine and locking vechicles, he said the traffic policemen are not doing their duty so they have decided to initiate action by levying fine and locking up the vehicle.

“He did concede that CMDA did collect the fine in the first three days after taking over the parking lot from private contractors. “This was just to instil fear. Now we have stopped collecting the fine,” he said. But then vistors alleged that the officials are still collecting the fine of Rs 20 to remove the lock. “We will look into the matter,” a senior CMDA official said.

Area engineer Joel, who visited the site was groping for answers when pointed out how could unsuspecting visitors to CMBT know it is a ‘No Parking Zone’. “We will soon put flexiboards to make people aware it is a ‘No Parking Zone’, he said, adding that the flexiboards got damaged when the trees were cut.

Even the workers in the parking lot were too rude and refused Express to take pictures despite telling them that they have the required permission from CMDA. Interestingly, the vehicles were again locked despite the assurances given by Narayanan that they will not be carrying out such exercise.