BMC brings in consultant for framing parking regulations

Additional municipal commissioner (eastern suburbs) Ashwini Joshi said on Wednesday that the consultant will study gaps in execution and also examine factors discouraging the use of existing parking infrastructure

Mumbai: With a large chunk of the city’s 8,000-9,000 parking slots lying unused, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appointed a consultant to review the implementation of its parking policy and identify why motorists are avoiding designated facilities.

BMC brings in consultant for framing parking regulations

Additional municipal commissioner (eastern suburbs) Ashwini Joshi said on Wednesday that the consultant will study gaps in execution and also examine factors discouraging the use of existing parking infrastructure.

The consultant, Ernst & Young LLP, has been sanctioned ₹46.20 lakh for its role in setting up a Parking Authority in the city.

The move came up during a standing committee meeting, where opposition corporators flagged widespread mismanagement in parking operations across the city.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Yashwant Killedar alleged large-scale irregularities and questioned whether the new exercise would lead to additional revenue for the civic body. Shiv Sena corporator Yamini Jadhav flagged the absence of basic regulation, saying parking staff often lack uniforms, ID cards and cited lack of transparency in fee collection.

Congress leader Ashraf Azmi sought the status of the civic body’s 2017 parking policy, while Colaba corporator Makarand Narwekar questioned delays in key projects such as the proposed Regal underground parking facility.

Narwekar also raised concerns over the BMC’s reliance on consultants. “Does the BMC have the means to introduce technology in parking lots that would help identify vacant slots?” he asked.

Joshi said the BMC had earlier scrapped a consultant’s contract after it proposed a one-way traffic system near Regal and Gateway of India without adequate public consultation.