Car owners in Vientiane are unhappy about the prices they are being charged to use public parking areas, as these areas have been created using money the government has collected from taxes.
A row of parking spaces on Setthathirath Road in front of Nam Phou Fountain is one area in particular that the authorities have received complaints about, after motorists found themselves being charged 10,000 kip to park there. Before the fountain and square reopened last month after being renovated, the parking fee was only 3,000 kip.
Mr Oubkeo Luangphaxay, a representative of Asia Investment and Financial Service, which invested in the renovation, said the parking fee was raised by the company for the benefit of motorists.
“We're charging 10,000 kip because we want people to feel confident that their vehicles are safe when they're parked here.”
Ms Amone Thapdavong, a Vientiane resident who used to park in this area, told the Vientiane Times on Friday she was shocked when she found out the parking fee had risen so drastically and she would warn others about it. “I will tell my friends not to park here because it is quite expensive.”
An official from the Vientiane Urban Development Administration Authority (VUDAA), Mr Bouala Chanthavixay, told Vientiane Times on Friday that there are 18 public parking areas in Vientiane and although not all come under VUDAA, the Namphou parking does.
But he explained that the authority had handed over the operating responsibilities to the Mix Restaurant and Bar, which has recently opened at Nam Phou and is owned by Asia Investment and Financial Service, who were in charge of the redevelopment of the square.
Mr Bouala said all the public parking areas under VUDAA are operated by private individuals.
“We give these parking areas over to private companies to operate because we get more money than if we use VUDAA parking attendants.”
He also said that normally it costs 3,000 to 5,000 kip for public parking, depending on the area, and admitted that 10,000 kip was excessive.
The VUDAA authorities will soon be meeting with the staff of Asia Investment and Financial Service to resolve the matter.
