The Greater Chennai Corporation’s smart parking system is ready for launch this month. It will facilitate automated parking of vehicles in 4,375 slots in 80 locations across the city.
The system was expected to be launched on October 2. But the launch was postponed owing to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Chennai.
In the first phase, motorists visiting areas such as Anna Nagar, T.Nagar, Besant Nagar, Nungambakkam and Marina Beach will be able to make bookings for the 4,375 parking spaces using the “GCC Smart Parking” App that can be downloaded from Google Play Store.
Premium space
“Only Khader Nawaz Khan Road has been designated premium parking space, with a charge of ₹40 per hour. The road has 134 parking slots monitored by 14 cameras. All other parking slots will have a charge of ₹20 per hour for cars. The parking time will be from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.,” said an official.
The total number of cameras fixed for monitoring the smart parking system in the first phase is 460, covering the 80 locations.
The parking charge for motorcycles will be ₹5 per hour. Payment from motorists will be accepted by credit card and debit card.
Parking slots along areas such as Pondy Bazaar, Panagal Park, G.N.Chetty Road, Venkatnarayana Road and 13 other roads in T. Nagar will also get smart parking, with charges of ₹20 per hour for cars.
Smart parking has been readied in Anna Nagar Second Avenue, Third Avenue, Fourth Avenue Shanthi Colony, Vavin, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai and Padi near Saravana Stores with a charge of ₹20 per hour.
Audit under way
“Third party audit is under way. Over 200 attenders wearing red T-shirts and green jacket will assist the motorists in each of the parking locations," said an official.
Second phase
In the second phase, areas such as Mylapore, Royapettah and George Town will get 5,300 parking slots. “A total of 25,000 parking lots will be included in the smart parking system along bus routes in the entire city,” said an official. The system will be based on artificial intelligence, with 8 megapixel cameras monitoring at least 15 to 20 parking slots. Chennai Corporation has also planned to launch a parking system for residents who do not have parking space at home. A high-level committee is expected to decide on the monthly parking permit passes for residents in all residential neighbourhoods. The monthly parking passes along roads in residential areas may by priced at ₹1,500 to ₹2,000.
At least one lakh parking slots will be earmarked for the residents along all the streets and they will be monitored by cameras.
