Guwahati: Residents irked with parking chaos amid rampant overcharging in city

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: As traffic congestion in Guwahati continues to intensify, residents are now grappling with another escalating urban woe—parking troubles that go beyond the mere scarcity of space. Across the city, both main roads and inner lanes are overrun with vehicles, and what should be a routine task of finding a parking spot has turned into a source of daily frustration and harassment for citizens. Complaints of inflated fees, missing receipts, and even intimidation by parking attendants are becoming increasingly common.

Under the guidelines issued by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), parking rates are straightforward and affordable—Rs 5 for two-wheelers and Rs 10 for four-wheelers for up to two hours. However, in practice, these rules are blatantly ignored. In many parts of the city, attendants are not only overcharging but also refusing to provide receipts or acknowledge the official rates. Worse still, those who challenge the irregularities are often met with aggressive behaviour.

One such case was reported by Gautam Baruah, a resident who recently parked his two-wheeler in the busy commercial hub of Six Mile. Despite being parked for just half an hour, he was told he owed Rs 20, with the attendant falsely claiming that the vehicle had been parked for five hours. When Baruah pointed out the discrepancy and asked for a receipt based on GMC’s official rates, the attendant became argumentative and confrontational, refusing to cooperate.

Another similar incident involved an employee of a private firm who recounted being charged Rs 30 for merely 20 minutes of parking. When he referred to the GMC rate board, the attendants not only dismissed his objections but began shouting at him, eventually forcing him to pay the inflated fee. These are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of abuse that is now commonplace across the city.

At Lachit Ghat, a former parking contractor revealed that although their contract with GMC had expired two months ago, certain local groups continue to collect parking fees under the guise of the expired agreement. “We suspect they’re operating illegally, possibly with silent approval from within GMC. How else could they get away with this?” the contractor questioned.

A GMC official said, “There’s no transparency in many lots. Rate boards are missing. In some places, no receipts are issued. That opens the door to harassment and revenue leakage.” The situation is compounded by the reduction in the number of designated parking lots—currently 46, down from 52—following concerns raised by the city’s traffic police.

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