DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 8 (MExN): In response to growing public dissatisfaction regarding the controversial parking fee implemented by the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), the youth wing of the Rising Peoples' Party (RPP) has urged the DMC Chairman to take prompt corrective measures.
In a press release, the RPP youth wing ‘Rising Youth’ criticized the current practice of issuing parking slips without the DMC taking responsibility for potential theft or damage to vehicles during parking hours. It emphasized that parked vehicles should not be treated as “money vending machines” and warned that, without proper accountability from the DMC, it may have to encourage the public to refuse payment of parking fees altogether.
To address these concerns, the youth wing said parking slips should include clear and legible instructions stating that the DMC would be solely responsible for any “theft or damage” to vehicles parked during that time, along with the municipal body being liable for compensation. It also suggested that ticket collectors should record vehicle numbers and affix their names and signatures when issuing parking slips, following practices seen in other regions of the country.
Furthermore, the RPP youth wing criticized the current lease system for parking slip issuance, arguing that it allows faceless individuals to exploit the system while resulting in revenue losses for the DMC. It called for the immediate cancellation of this leasing arrangement and urged the DMC to assume full responsibility for parking management, with revenues directed to the municipal coffers. It also recommended the introduction of a cashless payment system if needed.
The youth wing also stated that the public has the right to know whether the parking fee collected is being judiciously used for the upkeep of civic amenities and called for a monthly disclosure of how parking fees collected are utilized.
It also recommended that all parking fee collectors wear uniforms and display identification properly. Additionally, it proposed extending the parking duration per ticket to three hours.
