Having the capacity to host over 200 cars and 1,000 two-wheelers, the parking lot on Tatanagar premises is the biggest at any station under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway and yet no one seems interested in running the service.

The railway division on Wednesday notified a second tender to be opened on August 31 after the first on July 22 failed to attract any private party. Services of the erstwhile parking agency, Sahakar Global Limited of Mumbai, was terminated in the third week of July owing to "reluctance" in operations.

Officials of Chakradharpur said the value of the tender which had been fixed at Rs 4.27 crore. "There was no participation in the first tender. This time, we are hopeful of getting response," said Satyam Prakash, senior divisional commercial manager, adding that the contract would be valid for three years.

Currently, railway officials of Tatanagar have been entrusted with the task of running the parking lot. Sources said they would continue to look after the operations till a new private agency was appointed.

Meanwhile, in the absence of adequate staff, the parking lot is not regulated properly, complain Tatanagar railway passengers.

"There is no guarantee against thefts. Though railway officials are deployed in the parking area, they are too few in number. I used to park my car whenever I caught a train from Tatanagar. For the past two weeks, I am not using the railway parking because of security issues," said Aditya Singh, a trader who frequently travels to Calcutta.

Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Wednesday shot a letter to the divisional railway manager of Chakradharpur Rajendra Prasad, seeking his intervention in regulating the parking slot.

"For the past few days, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles carrying passengers are finding it difficult to enter the parking area owing to waterlogging. No steps are being taken to drain out rainwater," rued Vijay Anand Moonka, vice-president of the trade outfit.

The senior functionary also demanded proper identity cards for those deployed on duty in the parking area. "We have received complaints from traders that even after paying the parking fee, they were not able to find a bay for their cars because of unauthorised vehicles encroaching upon space," Moonka added.