Come November 1 and parking rates in East Delhi are likely to shoot up from the existing Rs.10 for 10 hours to Rs.20 for normal surface level lots and Rs.30 for premium parking for the first hour.
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation has proposed a substantial hike in parking charges to dissuade the use of private vehicles in order to decongest the Capital. On October 15, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation had hiked the rates to Rs.20 per hour. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee had on October 17 increased the rate to Rs.20 for the first hour and Rs.10 for each subsequent hour.
Now, the EDMC’s proposal will be placed before the Standing Committee on Thursday. EDMC Commissioner Manish Gupta, who is also the SDMC Commissioner, said his proposal was based on peak and non-peak hours.
“We have divided parking charges on the basis of locations, whether it is a premium parking lot or a normal surface level parking. We have also kept the peak hour charges high to encourage the use of public transport,” said Mr. Gupta.
The proposed rates for cars are Rs.20 for one hour at a normal surface level parking lot and Rs.30 for a premium lot during non-peak hours. Up to three hours could cost Rs.50 and Rs.75 at normal and premium parking lots, respectively. For peak hours, the proposed car parking rate is Rs.30 for surface parking and Rs.50 for premium lots for one hour. Up to three hours during peak time the proposed rate is Rs.75 for surface level and Rs.100 for premium parking lots.
For two-wheelers, the proposed rate during non-peak hours is Rs.20 and Rs.30 for the first hour for surface and premium parking lots respectively.
However, the differential rates proposed in the South Corporation had been rejected by the BJP-led House. Officials said the East Corporation would also most likely pass a similar increase as the SDMC’s.
“We are yet to finalise the exact rates, but we will increase the parking charges on the lines of the other civic bodies,” said EDMC Leader of the House Ram Narayan Dubey. Officials added that the new rates would likely come into effect from November 1, like the other two municipal corporations’ revised charges.
