Vehicle parking receipt issued by SMB stating “Parking at own risk” invites serious resentment

Jan. 28: Traffic congestion has become a routine affair in Silchar, especially in the Municipal areas of the town. Very often vehicles are parked in such a place which creates chaos in the streets and thereby gives rise to artificial vehicular traffic. Lack of proper parking places in major areas of Silchar is definitely a genuine cause which the civic authorities have evaded since good number of years. In the absence of any proper parking lots in the town, Silchar Municipal Board (SMB) has earmarked roadsides at Shyama Prasad Road (Shillongpatty), in front of Gol Dighi Municipal Mall etc. for parking of vehicles on payment basis.

Usually, Rs.20 is charged for parking four-wheeler vehicle for one hour and Rs. 10 for two-wheelers for an hour at these road side parking slots by SMB. A money receipt is also issued in this connection. However, what seems to be strange is that in the money receipt, it is printed in bold letters, “PARKING AT OWN RISK.” Now, this has given rise to great resentment among the people. Many have raised the question that, if for parking vehicles, money is charged by the Municipality, then it should also take care of the vehicles. But instead, the vehicles are left at the mercy of none!

Netizens have also raised this issue in social media platforms. Taking to his Facebook wall, one Saraswat Malakar posted the money receipt issued by SMB for parking and wrote, “This is the parking charge and only for 1 hour and that also at my own risk! So what’s the job of Municipal Board? Is it just to earn money?” Another netizen also ridiculed this issue and wrote, “SMB taking parking charges by using PWD road side, whereas, we have already paid road tax to the government. They are even unable to provide any specific parking lot. Moreover, we have to park and pay money to SMB and then remain in tension for they don’t take any responsibility of our vehicles.” A Facebook user Navnit Singh went a step ahead and wrote, “The whole country is running like this: At your own risk!”

Two years ago, in January, 2019, a scooty was stolen from the Municipal parking lot at Shyamaprasad Road (Shillongpatty), Silchar. The incident took place at 1 in the afternoon. A CCTV footage of the theft was recovered from a nearby shop in which a boy could be seen stealing the scooty. The owner of the scooty Pranab Paul had lodged a FIR in this regard. But unfortunately, as he had parked the vehicle “at his own risk”, so SMB just was a silent spectator. Police too failed to locate the stolen two-wheeler for which the vehicle owner paid parking fees to SMB. Such instances could be multiplied.

Expressing his view on this issue an employee of a private firm in Silchar said, “Is not it strange that the SMB charges money for parking but shrugs off its responsibility from taking care of the parked vehicle! Someday, we might find hospitals issuing receipt where it may be written- Get treated at your own risk or Restaurants writing on its door- Eat here at your own risk. All these surely sounds to be ridiculous. We have no objection in paying parking fees, but in return we expect service, that is, vigilance of our vehicles by those who collect the money.”

The money receipt issued by SMB for parking further stated at the end, “Thanks, Visit Again.” That seems to be another irony, for if the vehicle in the parking lot gets stolen or damaged (as it is left at the mercy of none), so during the next visit to that area, an ordinary person might have to walk there as he/she may not be financially capable in purchasing a new vehicle. So then, the phrase “Visit Again” will hold no good.