Minister Mohammad Riyas intervenes and seeks report on mayor renting out PWD road to hotel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Public Works Department Minister Mohammad Riyas intervened in the incident of renting out a place for parking to a private hotel on the busy M G Road in the capital city. A report has been sought from the executive engineer of the road department in this regard. The information is that the minister has asked to submit the report at the earliest.

The corporation’s action of allotting space for parking had stoked a controversy. The road of the PWD was given to a private hotel for a monthly rent of Rs 5,000. The traffic advisory committee led by Mayor Arya Rajendran decided to rent the road to a newly started private hotel in the devaswom board building opposite the Ayurveda College on MG Road. The corporation secretary and the hotel owner made an agreement for it by signing on a stamp paper of Rs 100. Even the government has no permission to give the road for parking under the Road Safety Act. The mayor’s act of renting the road belonging to the public works department for parking had courted a controversy.

After the agreement was signed, the hotel started blocking other vehicles from parking in this place. This led to several arguments. When a dispute breaks out, the hotelier shows the agreement made with the corporation.

Private institutions should arrange parking on their own. The corporation should also ensure that adequate space is there for parking. The corporation rented the road to a private individual over which the corporation has no right.