BMC's computerised system to curb overcharging at Mumbai parking lots

In order to prevent overcharging at parking lots across the metropolis, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to computerise the entire process in the coming months.

"We intend to install a centralised computer system to curb the overcharging nuisance in the parking lots of the civic body. In this system all parking lots handling machines, which release the payment receipts, will be connected to the BMC's common server. The server will also record all vehicle numbers with place, time and date," additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta told reporters in the city.

The BMC will install the new system in next four months. There are altogether 117 roadside pay-and-park lots in the metropolis.

The civic administration received a number of complaints about cheating at parking lots, especially in the island city, through overcharging.

With this new system we will able to get rid of overcharging complaints at parking lots. One of the important features of this system will be the availability of short message service (SMS). As the machines used by the pay-and-park operators at these parking lots are connected to the BMC's main server, it will have the record of each and every vehicle. The vehicle owner can have this information on his mobile through the SMS service," Gupta said.