You may be an excellent driver but your skills will be put to the test when you try to park your vehicle on the city's streets. Every Bangalorean will agree that parking is a problem that most citizens face.
As a solution to this compounding problem, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proposes to bring back ‘pay and park' system in the city. The system was revoked by the then Bangalore Mahanagara Palike in 2005.
The BBMP plans to put in place a parking policy. The guidelines and bylaws are being framed by the civic authority in consultation with the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT).
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The feasibility study on ‘pay and park' system revealed that there would be a reduction of nearly 10 to 30 per cent of roadside parking. The system would also help prevent haphazard parking across the city.
According to sources, the BBMP proposes to divide the city into three zones — A, B and C. The parking fees will be fixed after taking into consideration the land value, the parking system in place (whether mechanised or manual) and timings. To encourage people to use the multi-level parking facilities that will be created, the fees in these facilities will be lower than the fee of the on-street parking.
As per the policy, 10 per cent of space in the parking facilities should be reserved for cycles and 25 per cent for motored two-wheelers.
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Flexible fees
Sources also said the parking fees could be increased during peak hours and on weekends. Passes for parking could be given to businessmen, traders and their employees to park near their workplaces. Those found to be violating the rules will be fined. The fine amount would go to a fund created to develop road infrastructure facilities.
The policy also envisages levying pressure tax on motorists using certain roads and corridors. Parking meters would also be introduced to keep a tab on how long the vehicle has been parked. Multi-purpose and multi-level parking facilities could be created in designated spots on public-private partnership basis, while private empty plots could be used for parking vehicles at night. The owners of these plots could sign a memorandum of understanding with the BBMP. “The policy is comprehensive. The civic body will be able to put the policy in place only if the BBMP Council approves it. It was to be tabled before the council on Thursday. However, the policy remains a proposal since the Council meeting was adjourned abruptly,” the source added.
It now remains to be seen whether the city's councillors approve the policy and if it will indeed, as envisaged, help solve the parking woes.