Chandigarh resumes paid parking at Sector 26 grain market

Paid parking will soon start again at the Sector 26 grain market in Chandigarh. The administration plans to launch a tender worth ₹1 crore next week. Shoppers will have to pay for parking, but farmers will be exempt from fees. Currently, parking is free at the grain market, but it often causes confusion and traffic jams. The new system will make parking more organized and alleviate congestion. This time, parking fees will not be collected at the entry gate, following a court ruling against charging fees there in the past. The parking charges will be the same as those in municipal parking lots. Four years ago, the contract for paid parking was canceled, although it was initially worth ₹2.21 crore. The grain market is popular with shoppers from nearby cities and wholesalers from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, but parking shortages have made it difficult for vehicles to move. The market committee has submitted the proposed tender to the administration. They noted that the delay in starting paid parking has cost an estimated ₹10 crore in lost revenue. Under the new contract, the paid parking will be available 24 hours a day, and fees will be collected only in designated areas. Commission agents will also receive parking passes.