Pune: Students at Abasaheb Garware College in Pune are fuming over a hike in parking fees, sparking protests and threats of further action. The college allegedly hiked the fee for two-wheelers from Rs 3 (as stipulated by the governing university) to Rs 5, significantly impacting students who already face financial constraints.
Although the college principal clarified that they have ordered the contractor to charge as per SPPU guidelines, students allege he continued to charge higher amounts arbitrarily. Speaking to Mirror, Ganesh Gholap, a student representative, said, “For the last few years, the parking contractor has been charging Rs 5 per two-wheeler from thousands of students.
The SPPU circular issued in 2014 fixed parking charges at all its affiliated colleges at Rs 3 per two-wheeler. “For the last few months, students have been demanding the implementation of this SPPU circular but the college administration has ignored us. This is financial exploitation of thousands of students. If the college administration does not implement the SPPU order, then we will do a mass protest on the college premises.” Another student, on the condition of anonymity, said: “When we enter the college premises, we pay the parking charge online or in cash. But if we have to go outside for any purpose, we are charged again after coming back.”
Vilas Ogale, principal of Abasaheb Garware College, said, “Some students came forward and demanded reduced parking charges – from Rs 5 to Rs 3. We have taken cognizance of this and ordered the parking contractor concerned to charge as per the SPPU guidelines. I will not comment further.”
The outcome of the ongoing discussions and the possibility of a larger protest are yet to be seen. This local dispute sheds light on the broader issue of student concerns regarding financial transparency and alleged unfair practices within educational institutions.