Chennai: Theatre snacks are not the only thing burning a hole in Chennaiites’ pockets; parking fees in the city can cost as much, or more. While cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata have either flat rates or nominal parking fees as low as 20, Chennai stands out for charging exorbitant parking fees of 80 for the first hour and 40 for every hour.Akshay Kumar, an IT professional, said: “The current rate is 100 for two hours, and 90 for each extra hour. Most films run longer, and the multiplex I go to often delays shows by 30 minutes. I end up paying 200 or more just for parking. That’s almost the cost of a movie ticket.”While hearing a recent case filed by V Arun Kumar against a mall, which charged 80 for his two-wheeler for two hours, a consumer forum said it was an unfair trade practice.Under Section 39(1)(g) of the Consumer Protection Act, the District Consumer Commission can direct a business to discontinue an unfair trade practice. If it fails to comply, the complainant can seek execution; be it compensation, attachment of property, or even arrest. “However, one ruling can’t change the entire industry unless it comes from the high court. The non-compliance becomes contempt of court,” said advocate Sanjay Pinto.Beyond legality, many say the issue is one of fairness. “In places like Dubai, malls give four to six hours of free parking. If misuse is a concern, validation through shopping bills can work,” said advocate Akhil Bhansali.Sujith G, an entrepreneur, calls the fee structure exploitative. “Parking is built as a part of the facility; it’s not a revenue model,” he said.“Free parking may not be possible everywhere. However, there needs to be a cap on parking fees to prevent exorbitant rates and fleecing of customers,” said Sanjay.