Upon his return, after some 20 minutes, along came a person asking Rs 10 for parking. Niraula engaged in a verbal altercation for a while as the ´parking´ man demanded more than the usual fare, but finally gave in thinking it was all in vain. "There is no one to regulate the parking fare in Kathmandu," he murmured angrily before driving away quietly.
The place Niraula parked his motorbike is not an authorized zone where parking fares can be charged. However, the newly-formed local Pipalbot Youth Club charges parking fares in the area. Even if the area were an authorized parking zone, Niraula should not have paid more than Rs 5.
As provisioned in the Local Governance Act, park operators can not charge more than Rs 5 for one-hour parking of two-wheelers. The maximum amount they can charge at a time for the parking of two-wheeler is Rs 10, even if it is parked for a whole day. Likewise, parking operators can charge Rs 20 per hour and Rs 40 for more than one hour for parking four-wheelers.
The area is just an example of Kathmandu´s unauthorized parking space. There are dozens of such parking areas run in the name of local clubs or some other charity organizations in Kathmandu Valley. Motorists are not only charged to park in public places, but they are also charged more than the normal fares.
Officials at Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) admit that they have allowed parking in 18 places through the tender process. Of them, 10 places were tendered through KMC’s central office, and 8 others were tendered by its ward offices.
Officials say locals tend to run vehicle parking lots even if they find small, empty places, thinking no one would take action. There is also a tendency for people to illegally develop parking zones in the name of local clubs. Worse, there is no government authority to check the fee charged.
This is just not the case of illegally-run parking though. The KMC, which gives tenders to run parking, fails to monitor ´authorized´ parking zones unless someone makes a written complaint. "We do not go for monitoring if they charge normal fees for parking without receiving written complaints," said Rajya Prakash Pradhanang, chief of the Revenue Section at the KMC.
Worse, the parking areas authorized by the metropolis are not properly demarcated. KMC usually names certain areas while awarding tenders for parking, thereby making it easier for people to carry out unscrupulous practices.
Officials say Kathmandu´s parking was previously illegally-run mostly by goons who exercise their influence due to criminal activities in the localities. This trend still exists today.
"Even if we invite tenders, these types of goons warn of severe consequences if anyone bids for a tender," said an official, asking to be unnamed. "And these goons illegally run parking without having to pay the revenue generated from the parking to any government authority."
For an instance, no one turned up to bid for a tender in Bouddha area, despite the fact that the metropolis invited expressions of interest for the tender several times.
Even if there is a tendering process, it is not always fair and transparent. "We are forced to award tenders to a party, even if other parties offer us more amounts due to threats," the official further said.
Pradhanang suggested all concerned conduct a check of the parks to ensure they are authorized. "We will take action if we get written complaints against authorized parking that charge more than the usual fares," he said.
But who will take action against those illegally-run parking operators and relieve motorists from being cheated remains unanswered.
KMC´s authorized parking areas:
Run by Wards
1. Prasuti Griha and outer compound of Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal
2. Pyukha New Road to Dharmadhatu
3. Shukrapath Area
4. In front of Raj Photo, Makhan Tole
5. Mahabouddha area adjoining Bir Hospital
6. East of Dharahara, Khichapokhari, Nachhegalli to Khichapokhari. Dabali, Pako Pipalbot and Dharmapath
7. Pako Photo Concern to Ranamukteshwor (R B Complex)
8. Durbarmarg
Run by the Center
1. New Baneshwor Chowk, Dhobi Khola, on either side of Araniko Highway, along the lane in west compound of International Conventional Center, Baneshwor
2. Bina Marga (KMC Ward No- 1)
3. Near Shankar Dev Campus
4. Drinking Water Supply Office, Kamaladi
5. Kathmandu Medical College compound, Sinamangal
6. Land Revenue Office, Dillibazar
7. Bal Mandir Compound, Naxal
8. Medi Care Hospital, Compound
9. Chabahil Chowk
10. In front of the main gate of Tribhuvan International Airport
koshraj@myrepublica.com
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