ETMs To Be Introduced In All Parking Lots In Odisha Capital

Bhubaneswar: Amid allegation of parking fees being collected illegally in Odisha capital, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to launch Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) in all vehicle parking lots in the city to ensure transparency, reports said on Tuesday.

Necessary steps are being taken to introduce ticketing machines in all parking lots in a fortnight. As BMC has decided to stop manual ticketing once the ETMs are introduced, action will be taken against the vendors issuing manual ticket after the new system is introduced.

“The e-ticketing system is aimed at streamlining the parking service besides ensuring transparency in collection of fees,” BMC Commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange said.

The civic body is also planning to provide POS machines to selected vendors to collect parking fees to encourage digital transactions.

The civic body has 84 parking lots under its control. Around 50 per cent of these have been auctioned and managed by private vendors, while steps are being taken for auctioning of other lots, a BMC official said.

The ETM system is in force in certain parking lots and it will be extended to other areas in the city in around 15 days as a smart city initiative. BMC has roped in Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) to implement the project.

Following complaints, enforcement was also carried out in the Unit-II market building area and other nearby localities to crack down on the issuance of forged tickets. Action will be taken against those issuing forged tickets in parking areas. The civic body wants people to remain alert and inform it about irregularities noticed in ticketing system.