The basement parking space of a hotel in Berhampur holds a marriage reception. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Dec. 19: The development authority will take stringent action against those, who are renting out basement parking space to hold marriage ceremonies.

Chairman of the development authority Kailash Rana said: “It has come to our notice that basement space of various buildings, meant for parking, are being misused.”

Parking space of the business establishments, including market buildings, hotels and lodges, are often being rented out for marriages and other functions, creating traffic chaos outside such premises.

Moreover, in some places, shops, eateries and pandals have come up in view of the ceremonies. “The charge of the basement parking space for marriage and thread ceremonies is much higher than that of kalyan mandaps of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation. The rate for a municipal kalyan mandap varies between Rs 8,500 and Rs 13,700 while hotels charge Rs 14,200 to hold a marriage ceremony,” said Sanjib Pala, who recently arranged the marriage of his brother-in-law.

A hotel manager said: “We are providing space measuring 40X40 feet, a part of the basement parking for the marriage ceremonies, on rent basis. The space can seat about 150 people apart from the marriage pandal. We also provide a room for refreshment of the marriage party and arrange the dinner or lunch in the dining hall for the guests.”

“It creates traffic congestion, but no one bothers. The Berhampur Development Authority and the corporation must see that the basement parking space of any business establishments should not be used for any other purposes,” said Abani Kumar Padhy.

“The civic body has five kalyan mandaps in the city, and this year, we earned an income of Rs 9 lakh from April to September,” said an official of the revenue department of the corporation.