Bhubaneswar: A sudden and significant increase in parking fees at the parking yard outside Bhubaneswar railway station at Master Canteen Square here has left commuters fuming.
Commuters, who parked their bikes at the lot on June 12 during the Raja holidays, were in for a rude shock, when they returned to pick their vehicles. The daily parking fee for two-wheelers jumped from Rs 12 to Rs 94, and for bicycles, from Rs 5 to Rs 24 the following day. Similarly, the monthly charges too were hiked.
One motorcyclist was asked to cough up Rs 318 for three days. Some people have raised concern over the ‘sudden and arbitrary’ hike by tagging Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on X.
Bhubaneswar Railway station
Dear sir
Earlier for 24 Hours bike parking Charge 12 Rs now its Rs 96.
We r surprised to see the price list
4 Times hike in parking Charge service has remain same.Kindly look into the matter@AshwiniVaishnaw @DRMKhurdaRoad @RailMinIndia @RailwaySeva pic.twitter.com/qN5cZaOJ2Q— RISHU (@Shubhamdep) June 18, 2025
Bhubaneswar Railway station
Dear sir
Earlier for 24 Hours bike parking Charge 12 Rs now its Rs 96.
We r surprised to see the price list
4 Times hike in parking Charge service has remain same.Kindly look into the matter@AshwiniVaishnaw @DRMKhurdaRoad @RailMinIndia @RailwaySeva pic.twitter.com/qN5cZaOJ2Q— RISHU (@Shubhamdep) June 18, 2025
“If we have to pay almost Rs 100 a day then it would be better to hire a car and travel to the station instead,” said a commuter.
Coincidentally, the sudden price increase followed a change in the parking vendor at the station.
Reports indicate that Maa Tarini Security Services managed the ECoR-approved parking area until June 12. Starting June 13, D&S Associates took over and promptly introduced the new rates. However, no official public notice or clear signage about the increase was provided, causing many to park unknowingly and face penalties later.
The operator, however, insists the hike was approved by railway authorities and displayed. East Coast Railway also clarified that parking fees, based on station footfall and category, were recently raised across state stations, the TOI reported.
