RTI report reveals the decade-long nexus between parking mafia, civic body officials and local cops; Highest bidder bags the contract and shares 50% of booty with partners in crime
RTI report reveals the decade-long nexus between parking mafia, civic body officials and local cops; Highest bidder bags the contract and shares 50% of booty with partners in crimeu00a0
The parking mafia goons in the city continues to operate unauthorised parking zones at several spots in heavily pocketed locations and earn more than an employees at IT firms. With the scam generating an annual income of over Rs 360 crore, MiD DAY exposes the decade-long nexus between the parking mafia and BBMP, in order to get a realistic view of the situation in the city.
Too much: There are over 300 such illegal parking fee collectors
across the city. Pics/Satish BadigerParking attendants are illegally deputed at important junction like Brigade Road, Ganja Park, Church Street, MG Road, Trinity Circle, Indira Nagar, Banashankari, NR Colony, Kalasipalyam, Kengeri, JP Nagar and Jayanagar. With an inflow of over 200 bikes and around 30 cars every hour at any given spot, operators of these illegal parking zones collect anywhere between Rs 5 and Rs 20 per hour.
"They make about Rs 10,000 per day, which means that their monthly income is more than that of an IT employee," revealed K R Kamraja, an activist who has been following the mafia for over a decade. President of the Brigade Shops and Establishments Association, Suhail Yusuff produced documents procured through the RTI (copy with MiD DAY), which reveals the modus operandi of the mafia. "Of the annual amount generated by the parking mafia, the BBMP gets 30 per cent, while the cops get about 20 per cent. The tendering process is where the corruption begins. Tenders are given to crooked bidders or influential persons, who win over the BBMP with good offers," Suhail informed.
Bad apple?Suhail said that one such operator named Jayaram quoted Rs 3.3 lakh per month and won over the tender from the BBMP. "He paid a 50 per cent share to the BBMP for the first month and then when he did not pay the amount collected for the next three months, a notice was issued to him. Post that he fought legally, claiming in court that the shopkeepers park their cars at Brigade Road all day, thereby hampering his income. He won the case and for years he did not pay the BBMP," added Suhail. Jayaram is alleged to have done a similar thing at the City Civil Court and at Koramangala (BDA complex) and cheated both parties of lakhs in the process.
New to usWhen MiD DAY approached BBMP Deputy Commissioner Venkatachalapathi with the documented proof, he was taken aback. "The BBMP is losing revenue because of illegal parking places mushrooming around the city. We were not aware of this, but we will initiate a probe and the offenders will face serious charges. The only places in the city where parking tenders are legally assigned are in Brigade Road and Commercial Street - where a partnership agreement has been entered into between private operators using automated parking meters and the BBMP.
Officials have now claimed that the matter will come up in the council meeting and all existing contracts would be cancelled. Meanwhile, further study revealed that there are over 300 such illegal parking fee collectors across the city. While BBMP promises strict action against offenders, it remains to be seen if this will truly be implemented.
Faces of the MafiaM Kumar
Resident of Mysore
> Settled in Bangalore
since 10 years
> In the business with his two brothers (MG Road and Brigade Road)
> Collects parking fee on Church Street
> Earns Rs 7,500 per day (over 150 bikers park per hour, he operates for 10 hours per day, charges Rs 5 per bike)
> Shares daily income with team
H Rachaiah> Resident of Hosadurga
> Settled in Bangalore since six years
> Collects parking fee on Museum Road
> Earns Rs 5,000 per day (over 80 bikers park per hour, he operates for 10 hours per day, charges Rs 5 per bike)
> Shares daily income with cops and his team
