Buying a car? You may need parking space first

Buyers of new cars or motorcycles will need to prove that they have space to park them if a proposal from the Union government announced on Thursday is implemented.

The rule is likely to make a significant dent in the annual increase of private vehicle sales.

“In future, it would be mandated that no permission would be given to any construction without a toilet… no car or vehicle will be registered without adequate parking space availability certificate,” Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu said at a government function in Delhi on Thursday.

“I am holding discussions with (road transport minister) Nitin Gadkari and also sensitising the states. We are moving in that direction,” Naidu added.

Experts welcomed the plan but said the execution faces a number of challenges. Commuters take a selfie at the newly inaugurated Western Railway station named Ram Mandir in Oshiwara on Thursday.

The Centre will need to amend the motor vehicles law, changes to which are already pending parliamentary approval.

The 2016 amendment aims to address the issue of road safety and improve the processes for citizens dealing with transport departments, but they do not mention the particular parking norm.

Once the law is amended and notified, its implementation would fall on civic agencies and transport departments of state government.

Systems will need to be put in place for inspection and certification of parking spaces that new vehicle buyers will require.

PRATHAM GOKHALE/HT