Parking Issues in India: Causes, Challenges, Government Initiatives, and Solutions

Context

This editorial is based on the news “Managing on street parking in Indian cities” which was published in the ORF. This article highlights the challenge of on street parking in India’s cities. 

Key Reasons Behind the Parking Issues in India

• Improved Standard of Living: More people can afford personal vehicles.
• Affordability: Cars and motorcycles have become more accessible to various income groups.
• Inadequate Public Transport: In many cities, public transportation systems are unreliable, overcrowded, or limited in reach and pushing people towards private vehicles.

Challenges of On Street Parking in India

• Scarcity of Parking Spaces: Drivers waste time searching for parking, leading to frustration and traffic issues.
• Increased Emissions: Cars idling while searching for parking contribute to air pollution.
• Strain on Infrastructure: Cars parked haphazardly take up space on roads and sidewalks, impeding traffic and pedestrian movement.
• Existing Policies and Inadequacies:
  • Policy Incoherence: Goals and directives within the policies may not align, making them difficult to implement.
  • Lack of Measurable Outcomes: It is unclear how effective the policies have been.
  • Limited Enforcement: Even when policies exist, inadequate enforcement of parking fees, illegal parking and traffic regulations undermines their effectiveness.

Policies Implemented by Government to Address Parking Issues in India

• National Urban Transport Policy 2006 (NUTP): 

  • The policy emphasises demand management strategies, such as imposing parking fees commensurate with land valuation costs, establishing park-and-ride facilities at transit nodes, a tiered system of parking fees and creating multi-level parking structures in urban cores.

• National Mission for Sustainable Habitat: 

  • The segment addressing sustainable urban transport in this mission delineates strategies, objectives and action plans to facilitate the transition toward sustainable mobility in urban environments. 
  • It also outlines approaches to formulating a “parking policy aimed at reducing parking demand”.

• City-specific Parking Policies: 

  • Numerous cities across India, such as Surat, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chandigarh have formulated tailored parking policies for their respective urban areas.

• Guidelines for Urban Parking Management: 

  • Organisations such as the Ola Mobility Institute (OMI), the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) have endeavoured to formulate guidelines for urban parking management with the support of the government.

Way Forward to Address Parking Issues in India

• Aligned Policies and Directives: Parking policies need to have clear, measurable goals with specific instructions on how to achieve them.
• Capacity Building: Local governments need the resources and expertise to implement parking management plans effectively.
• Citizen Involvement: Engaging residents in the planning process ensures policies better reflect their needs and concerns.
• Realistic Parking Fees: Cities should adjust parking fees to reflect real estate values, discouraging private vehicle use and making public transport more attractive.
• Revenue for Transportation Improvements: The money collected from parking fees should be used to improve public transportation and non-motorized infrastructure.
• Protection of Green Spaces: Cities need to avoid sacrificing green spaces for parking and prioritise sustainable transportation solutions.

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