Mumbai’s newest luxury? Finding affordable parking

Kohinoor Public Parking Lot in Dadar, one of the BMC-managed parking facilities that could see a 40 per cent fee hike under BMC`s proposal. FILE Pic/Atul Kamble

Vehicle owners across Mumbai may soon have to pay significantly more to park at municipal parking lots, with the BMC proposing a 40 per cent increase in parking fees across the city.

According to civic officials familiar with the proposal, the hike has already received approval from the Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) and is now awaiting clearance from Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. The proposal will subsequently need approval from the Standing Committee and the civic general body before implementation through a formal notification.

The BMC-managed Kohinoor Public Parking Lot in Dadar. The proposed hike would apply across municipal parking facilities in Mumbai. Pic/Atul Kamble

Officials said revised rates would apply to all municipal parking facilities across Mumbai, including Public Parking Lots (PPLs), On-Street Pay and Park and Off-Street Pay and Park facilities.

Contractors fear business loss

"Any sort of hike in parking fees leads to the public vacating parking lots. We have seen it happen earlier after category changes. Current occupancy itself ranges between 40 and 60 per cent. If a hike is implemented, it will surely mean a loss in business," said a PPL contractor, requesting anonymity.

What the proposal says

>> 40 per cent hike in parking charges
>> Applicable to PPLs, On-Street and Off-Street Pay and Park facilities
>> Revised rates to be incorporated into existing and future contracts
>> Officials said implementation may take between two and six months, depending on approval

Mumbai's municipal parking network

>> Public Parking Lots (PPLs): Multi-level parking facilities, often built by developers in exchange for additional Floor Space Index (FSI) benefits
>> On-Street Pay and Park: Designated roadside parking stretches with paid parking
>> Off-Street Pay and Park: Dedicated parking plots located away from roads

Smart parking app in the works

As the fee hike proposal moves through approvals, the BMC is continuing the tendering process for its proposed smart parking app.
According to officials, the app aims to:
>> Map parking spaces across the city
>> Show real-time parking availability
>> Enable FASTag-based payments
>> Reduce complaints of overcharging and fund misuse

Expert questions timing

"I don't think a hike is justified unless facilities are improving alongside. The current parking lots have been planned poorly," said Jitendra Gupta, founding member of the Citizen Transport Committee.

What happens next

Approval chain
1. Municipal Commissioner approval
2. BMC Standing Committee approval
3. Clearance from the civic general body
4. Final notification and implementation

Expert Speak

Sudhir Badami, transport expert
‘We must work towards reducing road congestion, and to do that, we need to reduce the use of private motor vehicles. Several measures can help achieve this, including increasing parking charges'

What the proposal says

40 per cent hike in parking charges across all BMC parking facilities
Applicable to PPLs, On-Street and Off-Street Pay and Park facilities
Revised rates to be incorporated into existing and future contracts
Officials said implementation may take between two and six months, depending on the approval process

Rs 10 to Rs 615
Current parking charges depending on type of vehicle