The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) plan to allow residents to park vehicles outside society buildings for a fee, it seems, can trigger trouble.
The BMC policy, approved on Friday, grants the right to award parking slots on the road to the managing committees of residential societies. This, many feel, can lead to favouritism and eventual fights.
Also, public representatives have questioned the corporation's move to leave the task of street parking management to the security guards of residential societies. The BMC is only keen on earning revenue and are insensitive to other issues related to the policy, they say.
What is the BMC's slot-award policy?
Additional municipal commissioner SVR Srinivas admitted that currently the corporation doesn't have a policy, but will frame rules soon. "The rules will ensure that office-bearers of a society do not exploit the policy." He didn't specify when the rules will be framed and implemented.
I've a society parking. Will I get a street slot, too?
No. Srinivas says the civic body will allot only one slot per flat. That too, only for those flat owners who don't have captive parking slots. Parking outside will be allowed only between 8 pm and 8 am.
What about taxis and tempos parked on roads?
The new policy is silent on trucks, tempos, buses, taxis and other vehicles such parked on the roads. It only plans to charge vehicles belonging to flat owners that cannot be parked in society premises.
When will this be implemented?
The BMC will implement the scheme on south Mumbai's A ward on an experimental basis for a few months. The ward covers Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Nariman Point, Fort etc. It will be implemented in old buildings where there is a dearth of captive parking. Depending upon it scheme's success here, it will be extended to the rest of the city.
Will the policy help decongest roads?
"If the BMC wants to decongest roads, it will have to look for off-street parking measures like underground parking," says BJP group leader Manoj Kotak. Vinod Shekhar, former Congress corporator from Colaba, also supported the view. Srinivas, however, says it's an expensive proposition.
How much revenue will BMC generate?
Since the policy is being implemented for the first time, an estimate cannot be made, says officials. We will first have to survey the roads. Also, the number of designated slots will vary from area to area. We should get a better idea on revenue collection after implementing it for some months," said an official.
How does one get the permit?
Residents will have to approach ward offices, which, in turn, will study the number of buildings, width of the road where permission is sought, etc. Once the ward office clears the application, an NOC from traffic cops will be required. Parking will be allowed only on one side of the road. If vehicles are parked on the other side or on the wrong slot, it will attract a penalty of Rs 50.
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