Calangute: A video filmed by a local taxi driver in the tourism department parking lot in Calangute went viral on Sunday, showing tourists who were charged Rs 1,000 for parking for four hours, as against the notified rates of Rs 40 for a small vehicle and Rs 200 for buses and larger vehicles to park for up to four hours. The taxi driver showed a board which stated that the property belongs to the state tourism department and parking there is managed by the contractor KCIC.The driver alleged that the notified rates displayed at the parking lot booth by the tourism department have been meddled with by the contractor, using mud to wipe out the notified rates.A tourist from Nagpur in the video said that he came with a 35-seater bus and was shocked to hear the parking attendant demanding Rs 1,000.“We said to the attendant that Rs 500 is still reasonable, but Rs 1,000 seems too steep and unbelievable. He told us that if we cannot pay the amount, we should take our vehicle from here and leave. We are Indian citizens and we are in India. This is not right,” said the tourist. He said he was eventually forced to pay the demanded rate, but was denied a receipt.“I request Goa govt not to allow them to loot tourists in this manner, taking advantage of tourists when they are in need of parking,” said the unnamed tourist.The taxi driver also corroborated the version with the parking attendant in the video, with the attendant accepting that he charged the tourist Rs 1,000.The tourist said he learnt about the official rate after checking with tourist taxi drivers at the spot.The taxi drivers also released receipts issued in the case of other tourists, who were charged Rs 1,000 on Sunday to park a bus for up to four hours.Taxi drivers claimed that the parking rate board had been tampered with and the charges blacked out, making it difficult for visitors to verify the fee. “Tourists cannot see the rates, so attendants charge arbitrary amounts depending on the crowd,” they alleged.The parking facility at the football ground is owned by the tourism department, which awards parking collection contracts through a tendering process. The process has faced allegations of irregularities in the past.
