State to implement new parking policy by Dec.

The Telangana government will implement the new ‘parking policy’ in all municipalities, municipal corporations and the GHMC by this Decemberend. The policy encourages the creation of parking spaces in partnership with private parties.

Municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao reviewed the new parking policy with officials on Monday.

The policy aims to address the increasing parking woes in all cities and towns in the state. The policy stipulates strict rules — imposing penalty on buildings that do not have parking facilities and regulation of parking charges in the wake of parking agencies fleecing customers.

The new policy has categories — on-street parking, short-stay parking, residential parking, government offices/ public parking, parking in bus stations, railway stations, MMTS station, open plot parking and more.

Under the on-street parking category, parking will be allowed only if the road width is minimum 12 metres. Special arrangements will be made for those seeking parking for a short period especially near banks and shops. The practice of shop owners parking their vehicles the entire day before their shops will be ended. The government will impose parking fees and parking time limit at various locations. Parking norms stipulated for permission to construction buildings will be strictly implemented henceforth.

Buildings that have multi-floor parking facilities will be given property tax exemption. Managements of cinema halls, function halls, hotels, restaurants will be responsible for providing parking space. The policy bans parking of heavy vehicles on the sides of roads. Licences will be issued to allow parking in private vacant plots. For these plots, the government will give 100 per cent property tax exemption.

Mr Rao said the policy has been drafted after a series of meetings that were held with the concerned departments including GHMC, Hyderabad Metro Rail, commissioners of police commissionerates in city.

Mr Rao said that everyday 700 new vehicles are being added on the city roads resulting in parking problems.

The new policy was drafted to resolve these issues. A mobile app will be introduced informing motorists on the availability of parking space in their respective areas before launching the parking policy.