Go online and book your parking slot

Just like booking movie tickets or ordering pizza online, very soon Delhiites would be able to book a parking space while still comfortably sitting in their houses.

Just like booking movie tickets or ordering pizza online, very soon Delhiites would be able to book a parking space while still comfortably sitting in their houses.

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To bring respite from the perennial parking woes at Connaught Place (CP), Delhi government has decided to introduce a system where motorists can book parking space online or even through an SMS. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting on last Friday at the chief secretariat's office.

Parking in CP leads to traffic chaos almost every day during morning and evening peak hours. At any given time of the day, about 7,000 vehicles remain parked at Inner Circle.

Sources in the government said the process of identifying space for a surface parking has begun and the modalities will be discussed in a meeting next Friday.

"This would be an IT-enabled parking management system, which would streamline the parking functioning in Central Delhi. People can be sure about availability of space. This will reduce congestions," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

Once the proposed system is in place, one would be able to go online and book parking space for a particular period by paying with a credit card. Besides, those with immediate need for a parking space would be able to find out about availability of space by sending an SMS.

"A software will integrate NDMC-run Palika Parking, two upcoming multi-level parking lots at Shivaji Stadium and Baba Kharak Singh Marg and the proposed surface parking that would be built at Inner Circle," said a senior NDMC officer.

Based on the proposal of traffic department, the government has also decided to increase parking fee for surface parking, said Garg. However, the fee structure is yet to be decided. "There would be premium parking facilities for the ones who would prefer to park at the most convenient place. Parking charge for them would be a few hundred rupees per hour," said Ranjeet Singh, deputy commissioner, Transport Department.