Losing revenue, Mumbai civic body asks state to clear pending parking policy

Sources said at the existing parking rates, the BMC generates a revenue of Rs2.5 crore annually; this is estimated to shoot up to Rs10 crore when the new parking rates proposed in the policy are implemented

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation wrote to the state government’s urban development department last week asking it to approve the parking policy pending with it for nearly two years.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation wrote to the state government’s urban development department last week asking it to approve the parking policy pending with it for nearly two years

The civic body points out losing revenue in its letter. Sources said at the existing parking rates, the BMC generates a revenue of Rs2.5 crore annually; this is estimated to shoot up to Rs10 crore when the new parking rates proposed in the policy are implemented.

The BMC’s general body had on January 2, 2015 approved the revised parking policy that proposed a hike of up to 300% in parking rates for its pay-and-park lots.

The policy included a residential permit scheme, under which island city residents had to cough up Rs1,800 a month for every car they park on the roads. This was to be implemented in the Colaba, Churchgate, Cuffe Parade and Fort on pilot basis but had faced severe opposition, prompting the state government to stall the policy by the end of that month.

But with parking spaces shrinking across the city, civic body sources said it wrote to the government to approve the policy that was holding up new parking lots it has developed. “We have more space in the city, but they are not in use owing to the policy being held up. The addition of new lots and increase in rates, our annual revenue through pay-and-park will also go up,” said a senior civic officer from the BMC traffic department.

The letter mentions that earlier this year, the state had asked the BMC to submit a report on the pay-and-park policy after incorporating citizens’ suggestions and objections, after which the civic body called for a meeting of citizen groups from south Mumbai with BJP MLA, Raj Purohit, who had objected to the policy. But, there has been no correspondence from the state since March, despite a detailed report on the suggestions and objections of the citizens.

“As there is no response, we have written insisting on a meeting with government officials. It has been pending for a very long time and we want to fast track it for better management of parking on roads,” said a civic officer, requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, a delegation of south Mumbai residents along with Samajwadi Party group leader, Rais Shaikh met civic chief Ajoy Mehta to point out concerns relating to parking in areas around Madanpura. Shaikh had also proposed underground parking below open spaces in south Mumbai.

Shaikh said, “There is no place for people to drive on the road owing to double parking, if the civic body makes space available below various open spaces, it will be very helpful. Civic chief was positive and as the 1991 development plan allows underground parking he has agreed to appoint a consultant and check the feasibility for this.”