Patna: The Bihar government has directed municipal bodies across the state, including in Patna, to ensure transparency in parking fee collection and prevent arbitrary charges by contractors.
Deputy chief minister and urban development minister Vijay Kumar Sinha issued the instructions on Tuesday following repeated complaints from residents about irregular parking fee collections in several cities.
Under the new directive, parking contractors will be required to prominently display a table of authorised parking charges at designated parking sites. Authorities have also been instructed to take strict action against contractors who collect fees without proper authorisation.
Sinha said municipal bodies must ensure that parking charges are collected only within officially designated parking areas. Vehicles parked on roadside stretches outside these zones should not be charged any fee.
The government has also banned the collection of parking charges from hearse vehicles within municipal areas.
“Charging parking fees from hearse vehicles is inhumane,” Sinha said, adding that such practices must stop immediately.
The urban development department has instructed all municipal bodies to enforce the rules strictly and ensure transparency in parking management.
Officials said action will be taken against contractors found violating the guidelines or collecting unauthorised fees.
The government move aims to streamline parking systems in urban areas while protecting citizens from arbitrary charges. Municipal authorities have also been asked to strengthen monitoring to ensure compliance with the new rules.
