Set to get tougher, dearer

Proposes fee to park vehicles outside homes

reeling from record pollution levels, attributed to its more than one crore vehicles. Out of these, an estimated 31 lakh are private cars and most of them are parked by the roadside.

Delhi also witnesses frequent traffic snarls, especially on the narrow roads of residential colonies, due to unplanned parking.

The policy suggests giving parking space on colony streets based on the size of the plot.

“Beyond a specific number, depending on plot size, there should be additional charges for parking on residential streets for equitable distribution of public spaces,” the policy says.

To discourage people from buying multiple cars, it says road tax would be increased on an incremental basis for those who buy more than one car.

Besides, those who have more than 2 cars will have to pay a higher parking fee.

Around commercial areas such as markets, it suggests levying three times higher the charge for on-street parking.

The policy also reverses the existing trend where multi-level parking (MLP) lots are costlier than surface parking.

Accepting a key demand of the Supreme Court-appointed Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, the government has included differential parking charges. This means people will have to pay more during peak hours.

Concerned over rampant encroachment by cars across the city, Baijal asked the Arvind Kejriwal government in January to prepare a comprehensive policy that would lay guidelines for agencies to optimally utilise parking spaces and close the illegal ones. Once suggestions are received, the transport department will review the policy and make amends, if needed. The final policy will then be sent to the L-G again for his approval after which, an order will be issued.