Malls in S Delhi could lose licences over parking fees

NEW DELHI: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has threatened not to renew the health and trade licences of malls, hospitals and hotels that continue to charge parking fees in violation of directions repeatedly issued since 2015.

Last week, a warning to this effect was issued to these commercial establishments and a team of officials asked to draw up a list of defaulters. If the warning goes unheeded, action will be taken. “If they continue to charge parking fees, which is illegal, we will be left with no option but to cancel the health and trade licenses of these commercial establishments,” SDMC standing committee chairperson Shikha Rai said.

The directions, first issued in December 2015, were re-issued in December 2016 after the establishments failed to comply with them. In October-november 2017, the parking lots of some malls and hospitals that flouted the directions were sealed. Now, complaints have again begun pouring in that some commercial establishments are back to charging the fees. “Concerned officials took action against violators and sealed the parking areas in some malls and hospitals after directions were re-issued in October-november 2017. Now we are again receiving complaints, therefore the decision not to renew licences of violators has been taken,” said Rai.

Civic agencies issues health licences to eateries or canteens running in hospitals, malls and hotels and general trade licences to shops. Mall authorities and hotel managements tried to justify charging parking fees, saying it helped them recover maintenance costs and meet other expenses, including staff salaries.