Chennai: Commuting will soon be parked at the suburban station and take the train without worrying about the safety of their vehicles because the train will immediately hand over the parking lot at the train station to a new company for maintenance.
The contract will be provided to manage parking lots at 43 train stations, most of the suburban train center, in the Chennai Division.
From this, the parking lot for two-wheeled and cars at 28 stations will be given a three-month contract while the room at 15 stations will be given a three-year contract.
Parking lots are run by contractors at 36 stations in the Chennai Division.
Bukantur, Mundakanni Amman Coil, Premium Car Parking in Tambaram, Egmore Smart Smart Car, Chengalpet Parking Lots are among the facilities that are used as a process and will be submitted as soon as the selected bidder pays.
Many parking lots are left unmanched after contract experiences problems because of fewer suburban services because of a pandemic.
People have parked their vehicles for free and unattended.
The majority of parking lots will be managed for three months because the train faces difficulties in a long-term contract due to uncertainty in running the train because of a pandemic.
A train official said that the receipt letter had been given to the company.
“Some stations will have more than one parking lot.
One or two will be given to short-term contracts so that there is no risk to the bidder even when there is a decrease in patronage or restrictions on service,” he added.
K Basker, former member of the Consultative Committee of Rail Divisional Users (DRUCC), the parking facilities provided by the train inadequate in many stations.
“This has caused a private parking plant near the Tiruvallur train station.
There are two or three facilities like that only on Manavala Nagar from the station.” He also said the train had to speed up the contract for a standing bicycle.
T Sadagopan, a consumer activist, said the train often installed a board that made them responsible for theft or damage to the vehicle in the parking lot that was not managed by anyone.
“This is not allowed under the consumer protection law.
They must find a way to ensure that the parking lot is managed by the authorities and they are under the supervision of CCTV,” he added.
The rented parking lot began to function at Nungambakkam Station recently.