MCDs mull hiked rates for surface parking

Paving the way for implementation of a new Parking Policy for Delhi, the three municipal corporations have supported the need for differential parking rates and have even recommended higher parking rates for surface parking than multi-level parking.

The move, if enforced, will encourage people to use multilevel parking sites, which is not being used as per its capacity.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation commissioner PK Goel said, “The parking rates are very low. Besides increasing it there is also a need for differential parking rate under which we will charge more during peak hours. This will help decongest several areas of Delhi.”

“We not just support differential parking rates but have also recommended higher rates for surface parking than multi-level parking,” he added.

Several attempts have been made in the past by the corporation officials in the past few years to increase the parking rates. However, the proposals, which made it to the budgetary speech of the commissioners, were later revised by the political leadership till now.

However, SDMC mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, “We need to take stringent steps to save people from vehicular pollution due to excessive traffic. We will support all the measures that will help provide relief to Delhiites in the longer run.”

The commissioner of North Corporation and mayor of east Delhi echoed similar sentiments.

East Delhi mayor, Neema Bhagat, said, “The hike in parking rates and differential parking system may pinch people, but they need to know that these steps are being taken for their future. The body is under severe crisis and such steps will increase its revenue.”

Experts have been arguing for years that the corporation should increase its parking fee to deter people from buying new cars. Besides, it would also help the corporations in augmenting their revenue.