Jamshedpur, Feb. 23: Hi-tech cameras, monitoring rooms and round-the-clock security — the computerised parking zone at Tatanagar railway station promises to be a safe haven for your vehicles once it’s ready for use from next week.
Yaarana Enterprises, a private firm with an ISO-9002 certification, has developed the much-awaited computerised parking system at Tatanagar, an important junction under the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway. It has started testing operations since yesterday.
Spread over 1.5 acre, the car park has four monitoring stations, two each at entry and exit points to keep a watch on vehicles. The monitoring stations are equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Tatanagar is the first railway station under the Chakradharpur division to get a hi-tech parking system.
“The idea of the project was to check crime and also facilitate passenger convenience. Often, we get reports of petty crime from parking areas. Installation of CCTVs would definitely help ensure safety,” said T.K. Bhattacharya, the area railway manager of Tatanagar.
The private firm, which has signed a three-year agreement with the railways (Chakradharpur division) for maintaining the parking area, has fixed new charges for various categories of vehicles. For parking a car, motorcycle, auto-rickshaw and bicycle the charges are Rs 8, Rs 3, Rs 4 and Rs 2 per half-hour, respectively. A car can’t be parked for over 12 hours.
Moreover, passengers who do not want to park their cars can be dropped near the portico of the railway station. A separate ticket (of zero value) would be provided to such passengers and their vehicle would be given five minutes to drop off its passenger and leave. However, if they exceed the time limit, they will be charged according to the regular rates.
The firm took about six months to install necessary equipment and construct the monitoring rooms. “The project has come up at a cost of Rs 40 lakh and hopefully, this computerised system will make it easy for people to park their vehicles,” said Upendra Singh of the private firm.
Railway authorities said hi-tech cameras connected to monitors would help record vehicle movement. The staff present at the monitoring rooms would make notes of necessary details.
“The computerised parking system is being implemented to streamline traffic outside the railway station. It will ensure hassle-free movement and safety of passengers,” said L.B. Ram, the Tatanagar station manager.
