Don’t hike parking fees without fixing Mumbai’s parking chaos: Opposition tells BMC

A pay-and-park space outside the National Gallery of Modern Art in Fort. FILE PIC

The Opposition has slammed the proposal of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) traffic department to hike parking fees by 40 per cent, citing a lack of regulation for illegal parking across the city and flaws in promoted deliverables such as the smart parking app, the option of pre-booking parking spaces, and hefty fines to reclaim street lanes affected by unauthorised parking.

Residents and elected representatives have expressed mixed reactions to the proposed hike, with the Opposition urging BMC to revive the Mumbai Parking Authority and all projects that have been stalled since it was scrapped. In April this year, BMC began onboarding a consultant to prepare a comprehensive parking policy for Mumbai.

The Mumbai Parking Authority

It was established in 2018 by the BMC, through the Development Plan 2034, as the apex body to regulate parking in Mumbai. At present, it is not operational. The authority had proposed and worked on….

1) Smart Parking app that would allow commuters to view available spots in real time,

2) Parking spaces that could be booked and paid for online

3) A ward-wise parking policy with a street-wise plan

4) Utilising spaces in bus depots, tying up with malls and housing societies to rent their parking spaces to commuters for short durations via the BMC

5) Tie-ups with aggregate cab service providers, buses and trucks to park in public parking lots - as an effort to discourage unauthorised on-street parking

6) Checking the feasibility of regulating fines for unauthorised parking - through a BMC tie-up with the traffic police

Voice of the people

Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi

‘Instead of viewing parking merely as a means to generate revenue, the BMC should focus its efforts on improving traffic discipline and ensuring affordable options. We require a comprehensive review of the existing parking policy and its actual implementation before any feedback hike is proposed. Citizens are facing numerous challenges due to factors such as inadequate parking infrastructure, uncontrolled on-street parking, a lack of proper enforcement, and the erratic availability of designated parking spaces. The defunct Mumbai Parking Authority should also be revived'

Vivek Pai, Mumbai-based transport planner

‘I don't believe BMC should hike parking fees without a simultaneous and concrete parking policy in place. Increased fees will only discourage citizens from parking at designated parking lots. This can lead to haphazard unauthorised parking on the street and in other public spaces, further congesting roads. At present, we see unregulated double-lane parking on several streets in Mumbai. This needs to be curbed'

Sudhir Badami

‘Multiple measures are required to decongest roads. Among them are a hike in parking fees and a congestion tax. These measures are required to discourage car users from bringing their vehicles out and switching to public transport. While it requires measures to strengthen public transport, this is a good start'

Current parking fees for on-street parking

Minimum and maximum for on-street parking

Bikes
C Rs 10 - Rs 35
B Rs 15 - Rs 70
A Rs 20 - Rs 100

LMVs
C Rs 25 - Rs 80
B Rs 45 - Rs 155
A Rs 70 - Rs 235

HMVs
C Rs 35 - Rs 205
B Rs 70 - Rs 410
A Rs 100 - Rs 615

Current parking fees for off-street parking

Bikes
C upto Rs 15
B upto Rs 35
A upto Rs 50

LMVs
C upto Rs 40
B upto Rs 75
A upto Rs 115

HMVs
C upto Rs 100
B upto Rs 205
A upto Rs 310

'Parking fees are higher for on-street parking lots to promote off-street parking