Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Aug 29: Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy has strongly criticized the arbitrary fee collection system and alleged intimidation of passengers by parking staff at the Tatanagar Railway Station. Expressing his displeasure, the MLA demanded detailed clarification from the Area Manager of Tatanagar Railway on the exorbitant parking charges, including the controversial case where a passenger was asked to pay Rs 5,310 for parking his vehicle for just five hours.
In a memorandum submitted to the Area Manager, Roy said he came across media reports highlighting the issue. According to the report, a passenger was handed an inflated parking bill, which he described as completely unfair. Roy also mentioned that complaints regarding the aggressive and threatening behavior of parking staff towards the general public had become increasingly common.
Almost every day, there were reports of disputes in the railway station parking lot. This not only created confusion among the public about the fee structure but also tarnished the national image of Tatanagar Railway Station, Roy wrote in his memorandum. He stressed that the matter was serious and directly affected ordinary citizens, making it necessary for the administration to take corrective action immediately.
Roy sought information on the exact terms of the contract agreement between the railway authorities and the parking contractor. He questioned why the base rate for parking contracts in Jamshedpur had been kept so high compared to other cities. He further asked whether the Railway Board had fixed any uniform guidelines for such contracts, and why such problems were not reported in Ranchi, Patna, and other major railway stations.
The MLA also demanded clarity on the approved parking charges for different categories of vehicles and time slots. Additionally, he asked the railway administration to clarify what disciplinary measures were in place when parking staff misbehaved with passengers or resorted to violence. He urged the authorities to ensure the deployment of a senior officer at the parking site to establish accountability and restore order.
Response from the Area Manager
Responding to the memorandum, the Area Manager assured Roy’s delegation that all requested information would be provided within two days. Explaining the higher base rate, he said that the contract had been awarded to the highest bidder in the tendering process, and this particular contractor had quoted a significantly higher amount than before. As a result, the fee structure was fixed at a higher level by the railway administration.
Regarding the Rs 5,310 parking charge, the Area Manager explained that the first 10 minutes in the “dropping line” were free. After that, a charge of 590 plus GST was applied for every half hour. Since the passenger’s vehicle was parked for more than five hours, the amount was calculated accordingly. However, he admitted that the penalty amount was later waived and only Rs 1,000 was collected. When questioned, the officer conceded that no official receipt was issued for the Rs 1,000 payment.
The Area Manager further admitted that he had also received several complaints about the rude behavior of parking staff. To address the issue, an investigation committee had been formed. He assured the delegation that moving forward, an officer would be appointed specifically to monitor the parking system and prevent such incidents.
The memorandum was supported by a delegation that included JDU District President Subodh Srivastava, Jamshedpur Mahanagar President Ajay Kumar, Youth Front District President Neeraj Singh, Women Front District President Amrita Mishra, General Secretary Kulwinder Singh Pannu, District Vice President Bhaskar Mukhi, Mahanagar Secretary Vikas Kumar, along with Vijay Singh, Ganesh Chandra, and several others. (w/gsd)
Lapses on Area Manager of Tatanagar Railway, pubpic suffering very badly. No law and order at parking area.