The Madras High Court has directed authorities in Chennai Central Railway Station to set out some interim steps by demarcating the area where metro rail work is on and where parking can be conveniently facilitated.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam passed interim orders yesterday on a petition by advocate K Sudhan, after issuing notice to the Railways and directed them to file an affidavit on or before March 3 2015.
The petitioner had alleged that the car parking area has been 'hijacked' by some private call taxi owners and by unauthorized persons illegally managing and controlling it.
He submitted that almost 90 per cent of parking slots in the Railway station is utilised illegally only by call taxis, cabs and autos, whose drivers and owners are allegedly close to some office bearers of Southern Railways Mazdoor Union.
He alleged that no parking charges are officially levelled by Railways and the amount is instead being illegally pocketed by some 'mafia gangs' operating in the station.
Narrating his experience when he went to park his car,he alleged that his vehicle was damaged for not paying the illegal amount demanded by some unauthorised persons.
The petitioner sought a direction from the court to the Railways to regulate the car parking area in the station.
He also sought a direction to railway authorities to take appropriate action against all those illegally collecting car parking charges from visitors.
