Civic body eyes ‘smart’ scheme to run down parking mafia menace
South Mumbai's A-ward may soon have 'A-grade' parking facilities. A-ward authorities plan to provide sensorless, smart parking facilities. The idea will be 'test-driven' in the seven parking islands of South Mumbai -- Crawford Market 1, 2 and 3, Regal Cinema, Kala Ghoda, Eros, and Hutatma Chowk -- if everything goes to plan, say civic officials.
Under this new system, one can book a vehicle slot at these parking islands through a mobile application devised by the civic body. Then the user receives a quick response (QR) code, similar to the popular 'Book My Show' app, used to book movie tickets online. The driver can scan the QR code at the boom barrier installed and enter the area and park their vehicle in the reserved slot.
One can pay for the service with debit/credit cards or through other digital payment modes, like Paytm. A receipt will be sent once the booking is complete. The idea will not just provide hasslefree
parking but will help eradicate the widely-prevalent parking mafia menace, civic officials believe. Though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's parking slots are regularly inspected to crack down on mafia, or through surprise visits to check on possible malpractices by appointed contractors, the end result is far from satisfactory. So taking the 'smart'
route will help curtail the loot of civic revenue.
Kiran Dighavkar, the assistant municipal commissioner of A ward, who has envisioned and is trying to make the concept a reality, confirms that the sensorless, smart parking idea has been proposed but is still under consideration. Larsen and Toubro(L&T) was keen to take up the project, as it had first come up with the suggestion. If the project is approved by the municipal commissioner, then a tender must be floated and only the lowest bidder will be allotted the work, as per the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) rule.
Parking space can be procured in one-hour, eight-hour and monthly slots. The concept has been planned for those who drive their vehicles to work bring their vehicles and for those just passing through town to catch a movie or sightsee or shop and require temporary parking facilities. Not only will this accelerate BMC revenues, it will regulate the parking and digitisation will enhance security and ensure transparency.