The Delhi high court on Friday asked the Khan Market Traders’ Association to either agree to pay `5.34 lakhs as monthly licence fee to NDMC before June 6 to ensure free parking of vehicles or the civic body would be allowed to charge for the same.
Giving a “last opportunity” to the traders to resolve the row over parking of vehicles at the posh market after hearing the argument, Justice S. Muralidhar said, “This court considers it appropriate to give Khan Market Traders’ Association (KMTA) one last opportunity, up to 5 pm on June 6, to convey to NDMC its willingness to pay a monthly licence fee of `5.34 lakhs in which event it will be permitted to manage the parking in Khan Market for a period and on terms and conditions laid down by NDMC.”
The court also said that the NDMC would construct a multi-level car parking in the Khan Market area, as per the guidelines prescribed in 2007 in connection with constructing parking space.
It also made it clear that in case, the traders do not agree to compensate the NDMC, free parking in the Khan market area would automatically cease.
Earlier, Justice Muralidhar had stayed the decision of NDMC to stop free parking facility in Khan Market and introduce paid parking by inviting tenders.
Moving the Delhi HC, the KMTA alleged that the NDMC’s decision is discriminatory as there are various areas in NDMC zones where free parking is still permitted.
In the petition, the traders’ organisation, said, parking at Khan market has been free for the last 60 years. The tender for the paid parking has been awarded to a private company.
The traders’ association had earlier offered to compensate the loss to NDMC for allowing free parking but refused to pay `5.4 lakhs (`1500 per shop) saying that it was on the higher side.