Steep parking fee at Sir MV railway station hurts daily commuters

BENGALURU: The Sir M Visvesvaraya railway station in Byappanahalli, is the first railway terminal in India to have a full-fledged air conditioning system. However, a new rule implemented by the railway department has caused inconvenience to travellers.

Vehicles dropping or picking up passengers at Byappanahalli railway station will have to pay a parking fee if they exceed 10 minutes. The entry and exit points have been designated to reduce traffic congestion around the station, and a parking fee will be charged for vehicles parked beyond the designated parking area.

If vehicles are parked for more than 10 minutes, they have to pay a parking fee. If a vehicle picks up or drops off passengers within 10 minutes, no parking fee will be charged. Vehicles parked in the circulating area beyond the designated time limit will have to pay a parking fee, even if it’s just 11 minutes.

The parking fees are as follows:

– 10-20 minutes: Rs 40 for two-wheelers, Rs 50 for three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

– 20-30 minutes: Rs 100 for two-wheelers, Rs 200 for three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

– Beyond 30 minutes: Rs 250 for two-wheelers, Rs 500 for three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Regular commuters have vented their anger over the high parking fees imposed by the railway department. Ironically, the parking fee at the parking lot of the same railway station is lower. But, no matter where you park, you’ll be fined. People come to the railway station to pick up or drop off passengers or relatives, but they park their vehicles, leaving them where there is space for other vehicles, causing inconvenience to passengers. Railway officials say this rule has been implemented to address this issue.

However, commuters are unhappy with the rule and say that trains don’t arrive on time, and they have to wait for their passengers to come within the stipulated time.