Commuters avoiding Metro Rail parking

LB Nagar: Despite the two-and-a-half acres parking area located close to the LB Nagar Metro Railway Station, passengers are parking vehicles in colonies nearby, resulting in inconvenience to residents.

A complaint lodged with the police and a representation made to local MLA Sudeer Reddy failed to elicit any response from the officials concerned. Sheeka Venkatesh Gowd, Pragathi Nagar Colony Secretary, says, "Every step taken like issuing challans and taking the vehicles into custody is just a temporary solution. I even have a medical shop close to the Metro station and see passengers blatantly parking vehicles in colonies."

"We can't warn each and every individual. No-parking boards have been placed and there have been instances of theft, too. Yet, people continue parking their vehicles here. Another problem is young couples stay put for hours on end at these places," says Kokkiligadda Vijay, a resident of Pragathi Nagar.

"We can't go to every individual and give them parking instructions. We have arranged a paid parking at just 300 metres distance. Taking risk, passengers are parking below the Metro stations and in nearby colonies. We are not responsible for that," says Rakesh Gowd, Station Controller, LB Nagar Station.

"Though the parking fare is low, people have got habituated to free parking. We are providing two acres of land as parking space and the fee too is less, yet, people do not use the facility," says Kishore Kumar Thanda, parking contractor, LB Nagar Metro Station. He further adds, "We pay Rs 60,000 as rent and have also developed the area. Just to save a few rupees, people are using the colonies. It is a shame."