BMC is now proud owner of 13 parking lots across the city which will have parking capacity of close to 8920 vehicles, though a negligible figure when compared to the demand. Civic body was slated to take over another 46 parking lots with parking capacity of 32,000 odd vehicles, but unfortunately it will take time for BMC to lay it's hand on it as either they are under construction or yet to be handed over.
BMC is now proud owner of 13 parking lots across the city which will have parking capacity of close to 8920 vehicles, though a negligible figure when compared to the demand. Civic body was slated to take over another 46 parking lots with parking capacity of 32,000 odd vehicles, but unfortunately it will take time for BMC to lay it's hand on it as either they are under construction or yet to be handed over.
For the first time in 2008 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had issued the permissions to generate TDR in lieu of public parking lots to be constructed by the developers and handover to BMC under 33 (24) of Development Control Regulations. The policy aimed at reducing off street parking and thereby reducing traffic jams.
The benefit of this policy was grabbed by big developers who had huge residential and commercial projects coming up in the island city, eastern suburbs and the western suburbs. In all 59 such parking lots generating the capacity of 42664 vehicles was to be constructed by the developers and subsequently handed over to the BMC. Civic body was then supposed to put these parking lots for the public use and charge rent.
"Civic authorities had foreseen the future requirement of the parking space. BMC intended that the vehicles parked on the road would be accommodated in these parking lots which will free the road for smoother traffic. When BMC will start these parking lots the authority will not allow any parking on the road in the radius of 5 Km around it", said a senior civic official.
With Island city area suddenly exploding with the massive high-rise commercial office complexes and the residential complexes, the requirement of the parking space is going to increase. BMC was supposed to get 30 parking lots in island city area alone with the capacity of 30407 vehicles. While in Eastern suburb BMC will be able to get parking space for 5022 vehicles from 10 parking lots and western suburb parking space for 7235 vehicles will be created from 19 parking lots.
However, BMC could not follow up with the developers and had to be at their mercy to hand over the parking lots. While the deadline for the handing over of the parking lot was year 2009 – 10 for some, most of them are supposed to handover the facility by the year 2013 – 14. BMC, however have received it only last month, this year.
BMC's VIEW
S V R Srinivas, Additional Municipal Commissioner said that BMC will be now be able give relief to all those who were forced to park their vehicle on road side. Civic body aims to ensure off street parking is reduced. The policy is definitely going to help the citizens, though the space created is much less than the demand. "It is market driven policy. We will not expect that all those who were parking on road will park their vehicle in BMC run parking spaces. If any vehicle parked on streets in the periphery of the parking lots will be charged heavily so that they are discouraged to do so", said Srinivas.
Additional Municipal Commissioner added that while few of the projects are still under construction, some are yet to even take off. Those ready and are not handed over will be followed up rigorously by our officials. "City needs parking capacity of more than 3 lakhs vehicles compared to what we have. But this is the case of demand – supply and we are trying to give our best to the citizens", Srinivas added.
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