I had written about Parking going high tech here.

Yesterday, trying to park at Irla Amar Juice had another experience. Handing over Rs. 10/- as the slip was given to me, the man returned Rs. 5/- along with it.

Looking at my quizzical expression, he told me that was the charge. This aroused my curiousity & I quizzed him about the rates.

He claimed ignorance, but said that the sub contractor was saying - charges different at different places - eg Rs. 10/- near Juhu Scheme, Rs. 20/- near Juhu, Rs. 30/- near Alfa Irla and so on.

Whilst this is welcome, I still fail to understand why is double parking allowed? Why traffic police support is not provided so that driver sitting in those vehicles are made to park & pay for it instead of the usual Saab aaraha hai!

It is surprising & shocking that you can afford a four wheeler but not its parking fees.

I would really love to know what kind of different charges are being levied across bombay, so do write in & let me know:)

Some time ago the roads near Cinemax Versova were suddenly given new painted poles which had something small written on it, not visible to naked eye with even a 20:20 vision.

Over the next couple of weeks, my wife, daughter & driver enlightened me that it was all Pay and Park notices & traffic was slowly getting regulated. Good!

On Tuesday late evening we went to visit our Sharmaji’s Chaat for a bit of pani-puri. Now Juhu area near woodland has always been a Pay and Park, but I was pleasantly surprised to see freshly painted boards & boys in Khakhi coat moving up and down guiding cars & whatever they do.

Stepping out, one of them briskly came up to me with a machine asked for Rs. 10/- & gave me a receipt, which I pocketed, had our stuff & came home.

Bombay Termo Sensitive Paper Parking Receipt

Cleaning my money clip today, found the receipt, which got me thinking to find out who gets conned, who is the culprit - BMC; Sub Contractor, Consumer?

• The Receipt is issued from Hand Held machines
• They are on Thermo Sensitive paper
• They do not have amount written on them
• They do have in time; date; vehicle last digits & type
• And of course contractor name - Akhtar Enterprise - who seems to be every where
• PLUS of course “Parked at owner’s risk”

The freshly painted boards that are not visible do not give you a clue of the pricing structure.

Now do not get me wrong, I am not objecting to the price, on the contrary…..

• When we keep comparing Bombay to New York, Singapore & what not; why not Parking Charges?
• Why is it at owner’s risk when there is a charge being levied?

I know there are no answers to these questions, but if you have any, would welcome them.

In the meantime I console myself that at least here we keep the Keys of the car with us, unlike DELHI!