Delivery drivers who frequent 10 popular Housing Board carparks have been paying more to use the loading/unloading bays there.This is to prevent abuse by drivers who park at the bays for a long time, hindering other drivers from using them, an HDB spokesman said.At these carparks, drivers can park for free in the bays for the first 15 minutes, after which they will have to pay $2 for the first half-hour. Beyond that, the rates will surge to $4 for every half-hour.This applies to all vehicles that use the bays.
Previously, drivers needed to pay only the standard carpark fee.
The 10 carparks are at:
Tekka Market
2 Geylang Serai
2 Joo Chiat
Tampines Central 1
118 Aljunied Avenue 2
335 Kreta Ayer
131/134 Jurong East Street 13
505 Jurong West Street 52
Tanjong Pagar Plaza and
6A Everton RoadTo carry out the differential pricing, electronic parking system gantries were installed.
The gantries were first put up in 1999 at Tekka Market, and have been rolled out at the other carparks since.
All the bays are sited near amenities such as shops and hawker centres.
As demand for parking is high, there is congestion in these areas and the situation is made worse by motorists who park at the bays illegally, said the spokesman.
While drivers who do so can be fined by enforcement officers, some remain undeterred.
There were also several occasions when motorists continued to park at the bays after delivering their goods, he added.
“Those who need to carry out loading and unloading activities have resorted to parking along the service road or driveway, creating inconvenience to other motorists and even causing congestion within the estate,” said the spokesman.
Business owners at Tanjong Pagar Plaza said they have seen a marked improvement in traffic conditions since the gantries were put up.
Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market and Food Centre chairman Benson Low told Lianhe Zaobao: “Now there are very few delivery drivers who, after 15 minutes, continue to park for an hour and pay the $6 parking fee.
“They will leave immediately after their delivery.”
But it also means businesses there lose them as customers.
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