Stalled pay-and-park policy may get kick-started shortly

High on the civic body’s agenda, a draft pay-and-park policy that the Roads and Traffic Department of the Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC) has prepared is likely to be passed by civic chief Ajoy Mehta in the next few days, according to civic sources.

Under the draft policy, accessed by DNA, Mumbaikars will have to pay to park their vehicles on the city’s streets, with the parking rates depending on the particular area and type of vehicle.

While the BMC tried to introduce a pay-and-park policy in 2015, opposition from residents in South Mumbai had led to the move being scuttled. With the state government recently giving its go-ahead for implementation of the pay-and-park policy, the civic body is now ready with its new parking rates. After administrative approval from the civic chief and the standing committee, the new policy is  expected to be implemented in the next three months, civic officials said.

The BMC has identified 92 on-street parking sites in the city. The new policy includes concessions for autos, taxis and buses, as well as monthly passes issued for parking on a 12-hour basis. The monthly pass rates vary for public and residential parking sites.

Under the new parking policy, the city has been divided into three categories based on considerations such as footfall and higher licence fees for contractors of parking sites in commercial areas. Each of the categories — A, B and C — have different parking rates.

The ‘A’ category attracts the highest parking charges, while ‘C’ has the lowest. Besides being linked to the area in which the vehicle is parked, the parking rates will also vary from two-wheelers to three- and four-wheelers, autos, taxis, public transport buses and trucks.

The proposed parking rates for ‘A’ category parking sites for four-wheelers starts from Rs 60 for up to one hour, to Rs 210 for 12 hours of parking.

A monthly pass for car parking from 8 am to 8 pm will cost Rs 3,960, and for 8 pm to 8 am will cost Rs 1,980. The proposed parking rates for two-wheelers starts from Rs 15 for up to one hour, to Rs 90 for 12 hours. The monthly pass for parking bikes from 8 am to 8 pm will cost Rs 1,650 and Rs 825 for 8 pm to 8 am.

The rates for monthly passes will also vary for public and residential parking sites. For the ‘A’ category, a monthly pass for four-wheelers on public parking sites will cost Rs 1,980 and a monthly pass for residential sites will cost Rs 1,800. For two-wheelers, a monthly pass for public parking sites will cost Rs 880 and for residential parking sites, it will cost Rs 750.

Autos and taxis will be given concession of 50 per cent of the proposed parking charges for four-wheelers, while a concession of 30 per cent will be given for public transport buses.

The draft parking policy also states that the parking rates for all categories will rise by 10 per cent after two years.

Of the 92 on-street parking sites, the highest number of parking sites are in A-ward (Colaba, Churchgate) with 54, while 13 sites are in G-South ward (Elphistone, Lower Parel) and 11 sites in D-ward (Grant Road, Malabar Hill), among others.

The BMC’s Chief Engineer (Roads and Traffic) said, “We have sent the proposal to the Municipal Commissioner and it is expected to be sanctioned in a few days. We will then float tenders to appoint contractors for maintenance and management of the parking sites. The new policy is expected to be implemented in the next three months.”

Speaking on the new parking policy, the Shiv Sena’s Yashwant Jadhav, the leader of the BMC house, said, “We will study the policy when it comes to the statutory committee. If the rates are affordable, we will pass the proposal, and if needed, some changes will be proposed.”