Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik recently unveiled a daring strategy to alleviate the state’s escalating traffic jams, which sparked intense debate around Mumbai. Particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the new regulation seeks to eliminate traffic and indiscriminate parking by tying proof of parking to car ownership.
Sarnaik underlined in an interview with Network18 that the city is currently experiencing a crisis due to the growing number of vehicles and the dearth of parking infrastructure. “More people are purchasing cars without parking places. This causes mayhem, blocks roadways, and frequently delays emergency services like fire departments and ambulances,” he warned.
The parking expense in Mumbai is as high as that of real estate. Parking spots are a luxury in upscale neighbourhoods like Cuffe Parade, Colaba, and Bandra. According to real estate consultants, buildings with enclosed garages are selling for between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore. Depending on the location and exclusivity of the building, developers of more recent residential developments charge anywhere from Rs 2 million to Rs 15 lakh for a single parking space. For instance, parking spaces in upscale homes frequently cost more than Rs 10 lakh in neighbourhoods like Lower Parel or Andheri West.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has implemented street parking programs for renters that come with a monthly fee. For a four-wheeler in the Residential Zone, BMC charges Rs 2,310 per month. A four-wheeler costs Rs 4,455 per month in semi-commercial zones and Rs 6,600 per month in commercial zones. Even while these fees are less expensive than buying, many middle-class families still cannot afford them.
Anyone purchasing a car would be required to present proof of parking at the time of registration under the proposed legislation. This only applies to new cars; current owners are exempt. A clearance certificate from the local government attesting to access to public parking will be necessary for occupants of chawls or smaller residences without parking places. Enforcing discipline and discouraging parking in prohibited locations are the goals of the regulation. “Congestion is caused by people in one-bedroom apartments frequently parking their cars on the road. “This cannot be sustained,” Sarnaik said.
However, there are equitable issues with the policy. Many residents of Mumbai contend that the parking infrastructure is insufficient. For example, there aren’t enough municipal parking facilities in places like Girgaon, Dadar, and Andheri East, thus people are forced to park on the streets. Through programs like pay-and-park systems and multi-level parking facilities, the BMC has tried to control parking. To improve efficiency, it recently implemented a digital parking management system. However, detractors point out that these facilities are either inadequately maintained or too few. Locals in places like Bandra and Colaba have long grumbled about the dearth of reasonably priced public parking. Due to exorbitant fees and a lack of awareness, even multi-level parking lots, like the one in Tardeo, frequently operate below capacity.
Developers will probably feel the heat as well. The Unified Development Control Regulations (UDCR) 2022–2023 of Maharashtra mandate that new construction projects have a minimum number of parking spaces. However, these areas are more expensive, which raises flat prices even more. Real estate professionals caution that the new rule may affect auto sales, which are a major source of funding for the state. For instance, according to 2023 statistics, Maharashtra received close to Rs 10,000 crore in revenue from car registration fees. “The new policy needs to balance parking regulations with maintaining government revenue,” stated Mary Gomes, a Mumbai-based real estate consultant.
Although some locals are in favour of the project, many others are still dubious. “The parking spots are nowhere to be found, but the policy makes sense.” “The government must construct more reasonably priced lots,” stated Prakash Bhole, a resident of South Mumbai’s Girgaon neighbourhood. Others are concerned about law enforcement. “Dealers might disregard these guidelines. “Strict implementation at the RTO level must be ensured by the government,” Bhandup resident Sneha Parab stated. The public was reassured by Transport Minister Sarnaik that the policy would be equitable and inclusive. “The Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers have been consulted. “We want to lessen traffic without penalising regular people,” he stated.
All eyes will be on Maharashtra’s capacity to solve Mumbai’s parking problems when the government completes the proposal. If effective, the idea might be used as a template for other crowded Indian towns.
Source: News18
