For the third time, the Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) has deferred the operationalisation of the Chennai Port Parking Plaza (CPP), following resistance from truck operators over the payment of related fees.
The authority was supposed to implement the fee in February 2025, but it was deferred to April and subsequently to May. Now its implementation from May 21 has also been deferred. This follows truckers proposing to go on a strike from May 20 stating that they could not afford to pay the revised rates.
As per the revised rate, commercial vehicles like trailers, tankers, semi-articulated vehicles with an overall length of up to 40 ft and above will not be charged anything for the fist 15 minutes. For vehicles parked for 15 minutes to 4 hours, charges of ₹50 and ₹75 will be levied on CVs of up 40 ft in length and those beyond 40 ft, respectively. Parking fees for 4 to 24 hours will be ₹75 (for CVs up to 40 ft) and ₹100 (CVs beyond 40 ft in length), and over ₹75 or ₹100 if parking time exceeds 24 hours.
Any vehicle parked alongside port roads, at an undesignated location inside the port, or in front of the container terminals due to non-availability of relevant document or awaiting return cargo (double transaction), shall be deemed as unauthorised parking and such trailers shall be blacklisted along with penalty of ₹1,180 including GST, the ChPA said in a trade notice issued on May 14.
CPPP was developed at a cost of around ₹45 crore and the managing of the yard involves a contractor, who has to deploy manpower and other equipment. These require a parking fee. The CPPP can accommodate around 600 vehicles, said sources.