18 August,2016 08:26 AM IST | | Rupsa Chakraborty
Bikers left in the lurch as Central Railway decides not to renew contract for three parking lots at the busy station; railway cops posted to stop bikers from entering
There's bad news for hundreds of residents of Thane who reside in far-off areas, and park their vehicles at the station everyday, before taking the train to work to Mumbai.
On Thursday, the contract with the Central Railways for three parking lots for two-wheelers at the station (for parking on both the East and West side, at Rs 30 per day) expired. Following this, the railways has now decided not to opt for any fresh contract. So riders will have to park their vehicles at their own risk. There was a huge ruckus at the station on Wednesday morning when police refused to allow riders to park their two-wheelers at the station.
The vehicles were parked in one of the lots outside the station before 10 am. After that police did not allow entry into the parking lots, but people were allowed to park outside at their own risk
Unaware of the development, when riders from across Thane reached the station on their bikes after 10 am, they were refused entry by the railway police officials. They were forced either to go back to their homes to keep their two-wheelers or park along the road at their own risk.
Everyday, more than a thousand riders park their vehicles at the station. They come from far-off areas like Ghodbunder Road, Kasarvadavli, Ovala and Bhayanderpada before they go to their offices in Mumbai. To keep check on their vehicles, they pay R30 as fees to the people who take care of the vehicles and maintain them in proper rows.
But after the expiry of the contract, the railway has decided to open the space for all passengers free of cost at their own risk. "We have now decided that we will not allow any new tender. From Thursday, it will be open to all, free of cost," said BR Bhagat, deputy station manager, Thane.
When asked who would be responsible for maintaining the vehicles, he said, "The riders will have to take care of the vehicles. We will not be responsible in anyway. If their bike gets stolen or breaks down, they will have to take care of it."
At the station, riders who are generally always in a rush to catch a train on time, don't park their vehicles properly. The contractor's workers made spaces for parking vehicles and also took care of them. But now, riders will have to either park their vehicles on roads, or start travelling in public vehicles, which will further increase traffic jams in the narrow lanes.
Besides, police will tow away the vehicles parked outside the parking lot.
