Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday clarified that it has not yet taken a final decision on the issue of parking fees being collected at shopping malls in the city.
BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana said the matter has been brought to the civic body’s attention, but there is currently no uniform legal framework to regulate the practice.
“We cannot say outright whether collecting parking fees is legal or illegal. Different courts — including consumer forums, High Courts, and even the Supreme Court — have given varying judgments in different states,” Rana explained.
He added that both the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Corporation have their own resolutions on parking management, which will be reviewed before arriving at a balanced decision.
“Parking spaces should not be used for commercial gain. As per existing provisions, parking fees cannot be charged. At the same time, if parking remains completely free, there are chances of misuse. Our focus will be to ensure public convenience while preventing misuse of space,” the Commissioner said.
Rana further informed that discussions have already been held with mall owners, and the BMC will also consult legal experts before finalizing a policy.
