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Colombo gets parking meters

10 November 2015 04:56 am - 34     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Parking meters would be fixed along the Duplication and Galle Roads and all by-roads connecting the two main roads, the Colombo Municipality said yesterday.

Tender for the pilot project had been awarded to a private company, which would conduct the project for the first time in Sri Lanka.

Director (Traffics) Nihal Wickremaratne said the project, which was to install 125 parking meters along both roads was scheduled to begin in January.

“It will take about six months for the project to be completed. Funds would be collected manually for several months before we rely completely on the meters,” he said.

Currently, the Municipality has employed a number of attendants to collect funds at parking areas in the city.

The new system would have facilities for motorists to pay by cash, card or other payment systems.

“Forty percent of the income would be given to the Municipality, while the company would take the 60 percent,” he said.

New charges for parking nor the total cost of the project had not been determined as yet, Wickremaratne said. (Darshana Sanjeewa)

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  Comments - 34

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  • TONY Tuesday, 10 November 2015 08:36 PM

    WHY ONLY SARASWATHI LODGE, WHAT ABOUT OTHER PLACES

    simon Tuesday, 10 November 2015 04:25 PM

    It will take another 5 years !

    Rohan Tuesday, 10 November 2015 04:33 PM

    This is not an investment that in any way will benefit the Sri Lankan people or the Government. This is simply a money making exercise and preferential treatment given to certain parties. Was a tender called for this project?

    Ceylonese Tuesday, 10 November 2015 05:11 PM

    Will also have to employ a security officer at each parking meter to protect the meters from vandals and thieves 24/7 which eventually will be very costly.

    Ravi Tuesday, 10 November 2015 05:23 PM

    Barking meters, pig face is an ideal logo.

    dp Tuesday, 10 November 2015 05:31 PM

    interesting. so in the past all the money went to the Municipal Council while now a private company will take 60%. quite curious to see who is behind this company ...could be a yahapalana politico

    Hiran Tuesday, 10 November 2015 05:32 PM

    The city also needs multi-storey car parks. Although the number of vehicles entering the city has increased exponentially the numbers of parking slots available hasnt kept pace with the increase.

    Mili Tuesday, 10 November 2015 06:32 PM

    Because they probably need maintain by that company!

    Cobra Tuesday, 10 November 2015 07:10 PM

    So all of a sudden there really is parking space on the Galle road, eh?Hope they will arrange for some parking by the Saraswathi Lodge!!!

    Dee Tuesday, 10 November 2015 03:42 PM

    Our people will buy a vehicle worth 6-8 million but not willing to pay 50-100 rs for parking. They will find some way of bypassing and park in such a way that it harrass the public.

    daya Tuesday, 10 November 2015 08:43 PM

    This is another tax for the people in Sri Lanka under Yahapalanya. it should be free not chargeable..

    sam Tuesday, 10 November 2015 08:51 PM

    I think the 60% for the installment and maintanace of the system.

    Prem Nath Tuesday, 10 November 2015 11:54 PM

    This is no investment by any private company,this is the government doling out public tax money to preferential company without tender .Another way of doling money to friends.For these parking meters the government will need attendants,and to watch these attendants there will be special police patrolling.with all this,there will be no money in the meters at the end of the day.These type of meters were there in Colombo ages ago and were removed by the first UNP government.

    Bippity Boppity Booippity Boppity Boo Wednesday, 11 November 2015 12:14 AM

    it is an tender that has been awarded. The tax payer is paying for it.

    pc1976 Wednesday, 11 November 2015 08:26 AM

    Welcome !It should implemented all over Sri Lanka, even the bypass roads.

    Prem Nath Wednesday, 11 November 2015 03:18 PM

    OK, through tender,but to the highest bidder no doubt.

    Srilal Friday, 13 November 2015 05:20 PM

    Payment fees for parking must be payed by your smart phone from a mobile app?

    kan Tuesday, 10 November 2015 12:50 PM

    They collect money illegally and equals to begging.

    Sapu Tuesday, 10 November 2015 10:57 AM

    Some MR bootlickers were saying there are no investments in SL now while a private company is investing in this project

    Qatar Tuesday, 10 November 2015 11:14 AM

    Good initiative........

    K.Senarathne Tuesday, 10 November 2015 11:50 AM

    Same people said no new development project has started when several new railway and road projects started

    Mohamed Tuesday, 10 November 2015 11:53 AM

    End of free parking. Hope authorities will make it very reasonable.

    imtiaz Tuesday, 10 November 2015 12:06 PM

    Why should a private company get 60 % for vehicles using municipal parking space ?

    Grace Tuesday, 10 November 2015 12:09 PM

    How about BARKING meters inside the Parliament for the speakers to reduce noncence shouting ...?????

    kan Tuesday, 10 November 2015 12:10 PM

    It is a good move. That means parking areas will not be reserved for shop owners and their customers, and no parking on pavements.Three wheelers and motorcycles will not be parked free now compared to earlier free parking for hours and hours.

    PF Tuesday, 10 November 2015 12:19 PM

    What about the poor people who earn a living out of this?

    John Fernandez Tuesday, 10 November 2015 10:45 AM

    Vandals will remove these gadgets and sell them for scrap if not protected in some way.

    gamunu Tuesday, 10 November 2015 12:50 PM

    sapu, this is not called investment. It is called revenue collection.

    No Barking Tuesday, 10 November 2015 01:05 PM

    Well said. Govt could earn a good income monthly, and the collected funds could be used to give Samurdhi to poorest of the poor.

    YP Lokka Tuesday, 10 November 2015 01:09 PM

    This type of deals can only happen in a banana republic....think about these statements..."Tender for the pilot project had been awarded to a private company""Forty percent of the income would be given to the Municipality, while the company would take the 60 percent""New charges for parking nor the total cost of the project had not been determined as yet"

    Karu Tuesday, 10 November 2015 02:11 PM

    In India managing public toilets and safekeeping slippers at temples is a huge business. But they pay the Govt to get the tenders. It looks fishy here. 40 - 60 easy money

    Nalaka Tuesday, 10 November 2015 02:46 PM

    One solution is that they could become the inspectors who check whether the vehicles have been parked with a proper ticket or not; if not, the vehicle would be fined. With that "fine" money, the CMC could pay their salaries. Just an example.

    Oma Yang Tuesday, 10 November 2015 02:47 PM

    Whilst welcoming the move, i hopefully the authorities will make sufficient allocation for people to park their cars. Following at least 1

    lionheart Tuesday, 10 November 2015 03:31 PM

    at last one good thing done, at least now the tuk tuk guys can park their tuks somewhere else for the whole day than occupying the whole of galle road parkings


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