Draft notification was published on govt website inviting suggestions from the public
The Delhi government’s new Delhi Maintenance and Management of Parking Rules, 2017 proposing charges for residential parking, among others has been drawing flak from Residential Welfare Association (RWAs) and the public at large in the national Capital.
The new parking policy, the draft of which was notified earlier this week, has provisions for double parking charges for on-street parking, which will increase exponentially after the first hour, peak- and off-peak-hour charges. The charges will be based on a ‘base parking fee’ determined by an apex monitoring committee headed by the chief secretary of the Delhi government. The Lieutenant Governor (L-G) had approved the scheme, empowering the civic bodies and the RWAs to have a say in the formulation and implementation of the policy.
However, members of RWAs, claimed provisions of the new draft parking policy proposing a fee for residential parking are not “feasible” and that they will object to it again.
The draft notification was published on the government website inviting suggestions and objections from the public within 30 days, after which the policy will be finalised.
BS Vohra, president, RWA Federation, east Delhi said, “The new rules say that there must be enough room for pedestrians, hawkers and vehicles in the street, which is not possible, as the streets inside the colonies are not that wide. Also, it does not confirm to the realities on the ground. We will suggest the department to frame a more realistic policy.”
The three municipal corporations in the city — North, South and East — which will also be the implementing agencies of the policy in the city are preparing the ‘area parking plans.’
“Why should the consumer pay extra? We have already paid one-time parking fee while buying the vehicle. Then why should we pay more to park outside our own house. Also, if we park the vehicle far away from the house, who will be responsible for its safety. Will the government also deploy guards in every residential colony to keep a vigil,” asked Rajiv Mehta of Greater Kailash-K block RWA.
Residents in many areas said that the clauses in the policy are not ‘implementable’.
Meanwhile, the south corporation has said that it may not levy any charges for residential parking in areas under its jurisdiction.
SOUTH DELHI RESIDENTS TO BE EXEMPTED
- Meanwhile, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation has said that it may not levy any charges for residential parking in areas under its jurisdiction. So residents here can heave a sigh of relief.
VOICES
It is actually a very good initiative taken by the government. The situation of the roads of all the societies has become bad because the residents take the roads for granted by behaving as if the roads are their private property. A road is a public property but people are using it for parking cars at their own convenience
—Manoranjan Sharma, Mehrauli
Yes, I agree that haphazard parking leads to lots of problems but pay and park is not a solution. It is a lazy job by the government. They should provide multilevel parking for all societies so that people can conveniently park their vehicles properly in the parking lots
—Harsh Goyal,Khanpur
I welcome government’s decision of pay and park. I face a lot of issues hiring app-based cabs, as they refuse to come to my locality saying that they will get stuck in traffic in these narrow lanes. The major reason for the lanes facing traffic is parking on both the sides. This needs to end for a better living we need to de-clutter our roads of cars.
—Hritik Suman, Mehrauli
Haphazard parking not only leads to traffic jams, it also gives rise to noise pollution. As any car enters my locality, they have to keep honking till the person responsible for haphazard parking moves his car out of the way. All these problems cause a delay in reaching our destination.
—Anshuman Rai, Akshardham
It’s a good initiative taken by the government to inculcate discipline among people. The haphazard parking in the city leads to traffic jams. If the government stresses on parking charges, then it will make our roads clutter free and we will save time in travelling. The government also needs to provide better facilities at parking lots by ensuring the cars are safe.
—Misbah Ali, Atta Market
Why should we pay extra for parking our car if we have the convenience of parking it outside our house. If the government wants to charge us for the parking then first of all they should provide us a parking place within a distance of half kilometre from our accommodation. They should have parking lots beyond 500 metres
—Govind, Akshardham
EXPERT SPEAK
In a city like Delhi, which is cramped for space, minimal parking charges even for residential parking are necessary to maintain discipline. In a capital city where space is a luxury and there is rampant unplanned growth, measures such as paid parking are important to bring in uniformity and order. World over in countries like Singapore, there is a hefty price for parking even in residential spaces for both two-wheelers and cars.
—S Velumurugan, principal scientist, Central Road and Research Institute
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Parking Fee")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}