New parking policy raises hackles

The fresh method will be applied at 91 places across the city. If successful, 300 more spots to follow

Newly elected corporator Anil Kokil of Shiv Sena has sought clarification from the civic commissioner in the general body meeting on Monday regarding the new parking policy that BMC has begun to implement from April 1.

Kokil claimed it is pinching the pockets of Mumbaikars as it is double the previous amount.

Sanjay Deshmukh, Additional Municipal Commissioner of BMC, said, “The new parking policy is made to control the rising traffic menace in the city and also to make roadside parking legal. Sadly, today anyone comes and parks their vehicles without adhering to the basic parking rules.”

Deshmukh also said the policy was implemented after a Bombay High Court ruling. “The policy was supported by all party leaders in 2015 but as the issue was taken to Bombay High Court (HC) it took time for implementation. However, the HC now passed the orders in favour of BMC; therefore as decided the project will start in South Mumbai,” he said.

The new parking policy will be applied at 91 places across the city. If successful, it will be extended to 300 more places.

Manoj Kotak, the Leader of House in the civic body of BJP, supported the move. “The new parking policy is a good initiative to bring the city parking process into system. But to levy charges to the people occupying the roadside space under their building for parking vehicles will be considered only after taking the opinion of the people being affected,” he said.