The Central Government has announced GST reforms, effective September 22, aimed at reducing the tax burden on the public. This has brought hope to passengers at South East Central Railway (SECR) stations, who face high vehicle parking charges partly due to the 18% GST levied on parking services. Currently, private parties leasing railway property for parking often charge exorbitant rates.

 

At Raipur Junction, for example, two-wheeler parking is Rs 20 for two hours and Rs 30 for over two hours, while a four-wheeler costs Rs 40 for two hours and Rs 50 for over two hours. Overnight car parking can be as high as Rs 200-220. Another private operator at the same junction charges over Rs 30 for a two-wheeler and over Rs 40 for a four-wheeler, with commuters alleging they are often charged Rs 60. A similar situation exists at Durg Junction, another major SECR station. Here, private operators charge Rs 25 for a two-wheeler and Rs 35 for a car for two hours. They sometimes demand up to Rs 100 for four-hour car parking.

 

Commuters hope the GST reduction will lead SECR to lower the GST charges on parking leases, which would in turn compel private parties to reduce their fees. This is a significant concern for daily commuters, like students and professionals, who find that the high cost of train tickets combined with steep parking fees strains their travel budget. Nitesh Joshi, a student, and Narendra Joshi, a banker, both daily commuters, voiced their frustration over the high costs, stating that the additional taxes on parking are unfair on top of train travel costs.

 

They and many others have raised the issue with SECR officials in both Raipur and Durg, but a solution is yet to be found. Suskar Vipul Vilasrao, Chief Public Relations Officer of SECR Bilaspur Zone, stated that if the Central Government reduces GST on railway property leases, SECR authorities will definitely lower the GST charges on parking spots across all stations, bringing a potential solution to the long-standing issue for passengers.