Parking policy: Pollution body suggests changes

The Delhi government’s newly-framed Draft Parking Policy may take longer to become reality as the Environment Control Pollution Authority (EPCA) has raised reservations regarding some features suggested in the policy. 

The Delhi government had given a push to the draft policy in a bid to decongest the city roads as well as reduce air pollution. 

In a review meeting held with the Transport Department officials last month, the EPCA  had stated that besides creating more parking spaces and increasing charges, the policy must elaborate on not allowing parking on footpaths as well as removal of junk vehicles. 

The authority also suggested that there must be a higher penalty for car dealers using roads and pavements as makeshift workshops for sale and purchase of second-hand cars. 

“We had a meeting with the pollution authority. They have suggested some changes in the draft. We are studying the recommendations. It may be implemented before year-end,” a senior official said. 

In January this year, Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal had asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to make comprehensive guidelines for parking management in the city. The draft was left open for suggestions for over a month for general public and civic agencies.  

“We have received a number of suggestions from various agencies, including the RWAs. We will make amends to the draft after consulting all stakeholders,” the official said.  

The policy proposes checks on multiple ownership and roadside parking of vehicles through taxes and charges. It also calls for a ban on subsidised parking at public places, with users paying full cost of parking facility based on land opportunity cost, capital cost, maintenance cost, and temporal demand. To discourage ownership of multiple cars by one individual, incremental increase in road tax will also be considered.