Concern over new Byo parking fees

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO 

Residents in the City of Bulawayo have raised concern over high parking fees  which came into effect last Friday, Business Times can report.

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) in partnership with Tendy Three Investments announced the new parking fees which will see motorists paying US$1 an hour for prime parking in the city’s Leopold Takawira Avenue to 11th Avenue and Fife Street to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association secretary Thembelani Dube said: “The money they want for parking is too much and most of us as residents will not be able to afford it.”

BCC Corporate Communications Officer Nesisa Mpofu said the project is meant to create more revenue and employment.

“The project is expected to improve revenue collection from the current situation, create job opportunities for the residents of the city as well as bring order and sanity in the central business district allowing Council to manage traffic flow within the CBD and bring convenience to the motoring public,” she said.

Mpofu said smart parking also reduces car emissions in urban centres by reducing the need for people to needlessly circle city blocks searching for parking.

“The project also aims to provide security to the vehicles of the motorists through Closed Circuit Camera Television.

“Smart parking also reduces car emissions in urban centre by reducing the need for people to needlessly circle city blocks searching for parking. Parking search traffic makes up approximately 30% of all traffic in urban areas —making it a major contributor to environmental pollution,” Mpofu said.

She said the Tendy Three Investments will be using its own resources to implement the project.

“The parking management project is being implemented under the Build, Operate and Transfer) framework, where Tendy Three Investments designs, installs and maintains the parking system using its own resources for an initial six year period with the option of an extension of up to four years. Thereafter the project will be transferred for a permanent takeover to the City of Bulawayo,” Mpofu said.