The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and its partner Tendy Three Investments Private Limited (TTI) has reviewed the smart parking pricing model allowing motorists to transfer parking minutes to other bays.
Previously, motorists would pay for parking and once they move their vehicle their parking ticket expires even if they parked for a few minutes.
The new development will come as a relief to motorists who were forced to pay more if they moved to other bays.
In a statement, Wednesday, Town Clerk Christopher Dube said motorists will now be able to transfer their paid parking time to different parking bays within an hour.
“For example, a motorist can purchase a US$1 per hour, or its equivalent pegged at the ongoing bank rate of the RBZ auction rate, parking at Bay A can move to Bay B or Bay C, etc within their hour without being charged parking fees during the one hour that they would have purchased,” said Dube.
“The system will deduct minutes as the motorists park in their different bays in the one hour.”
He said the pricing adjustment follows extensive consultations with stakeholders and recognizes the prevailing harsh economic environment.
“The city remains committed to ensuring that motorists have access to parking bays through the deployment of state-of-the-art global technology systems,” said Dube.
Dube added that payment methods are also being strengthened so that all the parking fees are remitted to designated company accounts.
“The project bankers are seized with perfecting a transparent and accountable banking system supported by a robust information technology solution.”
He said the City of Bulawayo and its technical partner will continue to engage all stakeholders and are planning an all-stakeholder Indaba in due course to get a review and further feedback and input on the new system and continue developing a way forward in ensuring that Bulawayo is turned into a global smart City through implementing global and parking solutions.
“The Public Private Partnership under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement is aimed at creating revenue for the City of Bulawayo and provides employment to hundreds of residents of the city. Funds obtained from the smart parking venture will assist rehabilitate the City’s roads and through the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives,” said Dube.
“We remain committed to ensuring an overall improvement of the customer experience and interface.”
