Himachal Pradesh: In the city of Solan, vehicle owners are being forced to pay exorbitant amounts to park their vehicles at designated spots established by the Municipal Corporation (MC). The Municipal Corporation has auctioned the rights to operate these facilities at various locations, including near the old PWD Guest House, the MC office, and Railway Road. Due to a lack of oversight from officials, vehicle owners are being charged rates that exceed the limits actually prescribed by the Municipal Corporation. Ajay, a resident of Solan, states, “To ensure that no one overcharges, the rates fixed by the MC should be clearly displayed at all parking locations.” According to the rates set by the Solan MC, a minimum fee of ₹30 is charged for parking a vehicle for up to two hours.
For every additional hour, this fee increases by ₹10, and for a further two hours, it rises by ₹20. Fees of ₹70 and ₹80 are charged for durations of eight and ten hours, respectively, while utilizing the facility for a full day costs ₹115. Additionally, any vehicle owner has the option to obtain a monthly pass for ₹2,050. Every day, a large number of people visit Solan city for various purposes, including accessing healthcare facilities. Since parking on the streets incurs fines, people actively seek out designated parking spaces. Due to a shortage of parking facilities within the city, several such spots—particularly along ‘The Mall’ and Rajgarh Road—are managed by private individuals. The MC exercises no control over the fees charged by these private parking operators, compelling vehicle owners to pay higher rates to utilize these spaces.
Vehicle owners complain that the issue of overcharging is particularly pronounced at the parking facility located below the old PWD Guest House—a site that was originally auctioned off by the MC. “This Monday, when I visited Solan for some official work, I was asked to pay ₹250 to park my vehicle for eight hours—from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM,” a resident recounted. “When I inquired whether this was an MC-designated parking facility, the attendant stationed there to collect fees began arguing with me, claiming it was ‘Defense Parking.’ He handed me a receipt for ₹50 but subsequently charged me ₹150—an amount far exceeding the prescribed rates.” “Although the new tax policy applicable to Urban Local Bodies mandates a tax on vacant land utilized for commercial purposes, no such tax has been implemented within the Solan Municipal Council (MC),” an MC official noted. In the absence of any regulatory framework, motorists are compelled either to pay exorbitant fees or to face hefty fines imposed by the police for parking in unauthorized zones.
Ironically, the MC has failed to auction the parking facility constructed last year in Saproon—a site where 15 to 20 vehicles are frequently observed parked. The MC ought to prioritize reactivating such facilities to generate revenue for its coffers, thereby alleviating the financial crunch currently plaguing this civic body. “Providing adequate parking space is a fundamental responsibility of the MC. Attempting to generate revenue by tacitly permitting overcharging defeats the very purpose for which such amenities are established,” lamented Vishal, a local resident. When contacted, Solan Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma stated that the matter would be investigated and that necessary measures would be taken to curb such malpractices. MC Commissioner Ekta Kapta was unavailable for comment when reached over the phone.
