Hyderabad resident raises concern over alleged illegal parking fees at Begumpet Mall

Hyderabad: A Hyderabad resident has raised an issue regarding the collection of parking fees at the Lifestyle shopping mall in Begumpet.

The resident, Mohan Pargaien, took to the social media platform 'X' (formerly known as Twitter) to highlight the problem, stating that the mall is collecting parking fees twice. He requested the Commissioner of GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) and the Commissioner of HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency) to investigate the matter, as he believes collecting parking fees in such a manner is illegal.

In his post, Mohan Pargaien shared his experience, "Recently visited @Lifestyle_Store, Begumpet, twice. Surprisingly, they are collecting parking fees of ₹30 per vehicle from everyone, including those purchasing from the store. I request @CommissionrGHMC & @Comm_HYDRAA to examine whether they are exempted from the rules. The receipt provided also lacks the name of the store, contractor, or serial number."

In response, a fellow citizen, Vishwaas (@vishwasghughe), mentioned in a comment, “I faced the same issue but told them firmly that I wouldn't pay, as it’s illegal to collect such fees. I also warned them that I would file a complaint if forced to pay." Another user, Ashwini (@Ashu_Tweeting), added, “It’s not just malls; this happens at lakes, tourist places, and other locations too. If you refuse to pay, they claim that you're responsible for any damage to your vehicle."

Speaking with the Hyderabad Mail, Mohan Pargaien, a retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, explained that he attempted to file an online complaint but faced technical issues. Consequently, he raised the issue on social media, but there has been no action taken so far.

According to the Directorate of Enforcement, Vigilance & Disaster Management (GHMC), a notice issued in March 2018 outlined the guidelines for regulating parking fees in commercial establishments. As per Government Order (G.O.) Ms. No. 63, the following rules were established to prevent misuse of parking charges:

1. First 30 minutes: Free parking; no fees should be collected from any vehicle.
2. Above 30 minutes and up to 1 hour: Free parking if the person can provide a bill from the respective mall or multiplex as proof of shopping. If not, the prescribed parking fee can be charged.
3. Above 1 hour: Free parking if the person provides a bill or movie ticket that exceeds the parking fee, serving as proof of shopping at the mall or multiplex. For others, the parking fee may be collected according to the prescribed rates.

The notice further highlights the need for commercial establishments to comply strictly with these regulations. It remains to be seen if the authorities will take action regarding the illegal collection of parking fees at the Lifestyle Mall, as raised by the concerned citizen.