Kerbside car parking at Rs 50/hour in busy areas of central Delhi likely

The New Delhi Municipal Council is planning to allow limited-time kerbside parking in busy areas of central Delhi and charge up to Rs 50 per hour.

The New Delhi Municipal Council is planning to allow limited-time kerbside parking in busy areas of central Delhi and charge up to Rs 50 per hour.

NDMC is planning to allow limited-time kerbside parking in busy areas of central Delhi and charge up to Rs 50 per hour. (HT File Photo)

The areas include the central business district of Connaught Place, Barakhamba Road, Tolstoy Road and Kasturba Gandhi Marg where parking space is scarce. In the existing parking slots, people pay Rs 20 per hour for the first five hours, and a flat rate of Rs 100 for the whole day. According to a senior council official, the municipality is working on revising the rates and exploring the option of earmarking roadside spaces as non-peak-hour parking spots.

“People won’t be allowed to use these slots for more than an hour. We will try to implement this on wider roads where it is technically possible,” an official said.

A decision is expected at a council meeting on September 5.

Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, advocacy and research, Centre for Science and Environment, said there was a need for high and variable parking rates to discourage car use.

“This will reduce congestion. However, strong penalties for illegal parking are also needed,” she said.

Council member and Delhi Cantonment MLA Surender Singh said he would oppose the move. “Already ` 20 per hour is expensive,” he said.

New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi supported the idea. “In certain spots, people are parking their vehicles anyway. If done in an orderly manner and with stringent regulations, roads can remain clear,” she said.