6 months ago
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Despite repeated claims of afloat preparedness successful Erumely to negociate the pilgrim rush, the deficiency of enforcement connected pricing has emerged arsenic a large concern, with complaints mounting implicit pilgrims being fleeced astatine the temple town, a cardinal transit constituent to Sabarimala.
Though authorities person mandated that lone the rates fixed by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) should beryllium charged, important discrepancies persist astatine backstage parking facilities. Pilgrims allege that adjacent immoderate grounds auctioned by the TDB are demanding inflated amounts. Yet, contempt the dependable travel of complaints, nary decisive enactment has been taken to standardise rates oregon curb overpricing.
A akin concern prevails with toilet charges. The panchayat has instructed that some parking and toilet fees indispensable strictly adhere to the Devaswom Board’s approved rates. Private contractors, however, support their higher charges by claiming that they connection further amenities.
“At TDB-run parking grounds, the prescribed tariffs are prominently displayed, but astir backstage facilities deficiency specified transparency. Although the authoritative interest for car parking is ₹40, galore backstage operators proceed to cod ₹100. Inspections person begun to extremity this practice,” noted a gross official
Meanwhile, respective Hindu organisations person intensified their protests against what they picture arsenic blatant exploitation of pilgrims. Tensions escalated precocious erstwhile a quality broke retired implicit the Revenue Inspection Team’s nonaccomplishment to record a lawsuit oregon enforce a good connected a contractor accused of overcharging.
Parking fees are being collected the infinitesimal vehicles arrive, contempt rules stating that charges tin beryllium levied lone aft a conveyance is parked, they alleged.
Further allegations person surfaced that contractors contented mean receipts to Keralite pilgrims portion providing e-POS bills to devotees from different States, raising suspicions of dual billing practices. Hindu organisations person submitted some types of receipts to authorities, pointing retired that those issued successful the Devaswom Board’s sanction transportation nary authoritative seal.
The contractors are charging ₹150 for cars and ₹200 for buses astatine a TDB parking crushed — acold exceeding the prescribed rates.
