Patna: Commuters at Patna Junction, the capital’s primary railway station, have voiced anger over newly implemented smart parking charges, which many say are higher than those at major Delhi stations and even at New Delhi Airport.
Under the revamped system, four-wheeled vehicles are charged Rs80 for every minute beyond an eight-minute free window, a policy that passengers say is unfair for short stops. Relatives picking up arriving passengers, especially during train delays or platform changes, often end up paying substantial sums for brief waits.
Raju Kumar, who had travelled to collect his relative from Gaya, described having to pay a “significant amount” for just a 20–25 minute wait. “In Delhi, some leniency is given for the first few minutes, but here, the charges kick in immediately,” he said.
Passenger Roshan Sharma also criticised the system, noting that “despite lacking airport-like facilities, the charges here are higher than at the airport.” Social organisations have urged the railway authorities to offer free or minimal parking for the first 10–15 minutes to ease the burden on passengers.
Abhinav Siddharth, Senior DCM of the Danapur Division, defended the policy, saying that the parking rates are clearly displayed and are being applied as prescribed.
The new fee structure has seen a sharp increase:
Cars
- Up to 2 hours: Rs80 (previously Rs60)
- 2–6 hours: Rs200 (previously Rs90)
- 24 hours: Rs500 (previously Rs236)
Two-wheelers
- Up to 2 hours: Rs20 (previously Rs12)
- 2–6 hours: Rs25 (previously Rs18)
- 24 hours: Rs50 (previously Rs30)
Commuters have expressed frustration, calling for a reconsideration of rates, highlighting that the convenience of passengers should be prioritised at one of Bihar’s busiest transport hubs.
