Delhi needs tough laws on parking

The national capital, which is facing a major parking problem, needs a stringent policy to curb the increasing number of private vehicles in the city, experts have said.

The national capital, which is facing a major parking problem, needs a stringent policy to curb the increasing number of private vehicles in the city, experts have said. They have suggested measures that include differential parking rates as per location.

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Parking space accounts for almost 10% of urban land in Delhi.

At a a workshop organised by the Centre for Science and Environment on Wednesday to discuss the 'Parking Policy in Delhi', they said that parking should be made free for cyclists who use the Delhi Metro and made cheaper for cycle rickshaw owners as rickshaws are used by people to reach Metro stations.

"There are more than 6.9 million vehicles in the city and the number is increasing at an alarming rate of 10% every year. High pricing will discourage people to use their vehicles," said E. Errampalli Madhu of Central Road Research Institute.

"Location and pricing will have an impact on use of cars. We had carried out a study in Nehru Place and Bhikaji Cama Place where many participants said that they would be willing to use Metro only if parking became as expensive as Rs 200," said Geetam Tiwari, professor, IIT Delhi.

Environmental Protection and Conservation Authority chairman Bhure Lal said that a national level policy for purchase of cars should be made to discourage use of private vehicles. "Put a ceiling on the number of vehicles in a city like Delhi," said Lal. "Instead of people waiting for a bus, it should be buses waiting for the people," he said.