Chennai Corp suspends parking fees at Marina Beach – News Today

Chennai: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced a temporary suspension of vehicle parking fees at city beaches and road parking areas.

This decision comes in the wake of the previous contractor’s expiry of the tender deadline on March 31 and the legal issues that followed, including a police FIR against the agency for illegally collecting parking fees at Marina Beach after the contract was signed.

A senior GCC official confirmed that parking fees have been suspended across the city, affecting popular locations like Marina Beach, Pondy Bazaar and Anna Nagar. The suspension will remain in effect until a new contractor is appointed to manage parking services. The Special Projects Department is currently preparing a new tender, which will be awarded and monitored by the Revenue Department.

The decision to suspend the fees followed several complaints and a police FIR against the previous contractor for continuing to illegally collect parking fees after the contract had ended. This breach of contract prompted the GCC to take immediate action to prevent further unauthorized charging.

In addition to the legal issues, residents have reported cases of excessive fees and rude behavior by private agencies that manage the parking lots. These complaints have highlighted the need for stricter regulations and enforcement in the management of parking services to ensure fair practices and better customer service.

The GCC Special Projects Department is actively working on a new tender for parking fees. Once awarded, the new contractor will be responsible for managing parking services under the supervision of the Revenue Authority. The aim of this process is to make the system more transparent and efficient, address residents’ concerns and ensure proper compliance with contractual obligations.