KOCHI: It is no secret that the city with the highest vehicle density in state lacks adequate parking space. Adding to its space woes is the annual registration of nearly 30,000 new vehicles. The city has 40 dedicated parking slots, of which 32 belong to private parties.The remaining ones come under the corporation. The parking space made available by it are the ones at Rajaji Road, SRV Junction, Subash Bose Park, Koker’s theatre in Fort Kochi , VIP Road, TVS Culvert to RBI Quarters in Kaloor and Thoppumpady comfort station.In 2014, 30,626 vehicles were registered under Ernakulam RTO and it rose to 31,045 in 2017. But, no new parking space came up in proportion to the increase in vehicles. So, city roads were choked as people parked vehicles wherever they found space.And this very habit has inconvenienced the public. “Authorities fail to act against commercial establishments that convert their parking slots into business activities, which in turn forces customers to park their vehicles on the sides of the road,” said an MVD official.“Planning officials recommend more multi-level car parking facility to end the issue. But, when we develop road, it is not based on futuristic plans. Government allows construction of buildings 2m away from roads whose width is less than 6m. it is not a good initiative considering future road widening. If we allow more buildings near the road, government will bear huge financial burden when road development works come up in future,” said a planning board official.Corporation auctions its slots every year and awards it when the bidder remits a certain sum and allows him to collect a fixed amount from motorists. The licence to the bidder is given for Rs 1,000 for 500 m sq and Rs 2, 000 for 1000 m sq. The bidder pays Rs 3,000 for the slot above 1000 m sq/year. But this year, only three slots were awarded within city limits. Officials suspect that the meagre amount fixed as fee (to be taken from motorists) by the local body, might dissuade bidders from taking part in the auction.The fee is Rs 5 for two-wheelers for two hours and Rs 10 for four-wheeler. The sum doubles for every extra hour. Local body has not fixed the fee amount for private parties. “Rule state that private parties must register with the local body for running parking slots. But they started to register with us, recently. If a party is found running the parking space without registering with us, the local body can impose a fine of only Rs 500,” said a revenue official.