Revision in Delhi’s parking rates is a positive step

This measure must be combined with other steps to address the problem of the increasing number of private vehicles

With the increasing number of vehicles, the demand for parking has been on the rise, especially in the last 15 years. To tackle this growing demand, Indian cities have been adopting the conventional solution of increasing parking supply, but keeping the parking charges unaffected. 

Most Indian cities and their municipal bodies fix parking charges on an ad-hoc basis. Preference for private transport, encouraged by the abundance of parking supply and paucity of alternatives, has led to spiraling growth in parking demand.

In an order dated May 5, 2006, the Supreme Court had directed the Environment Pollution Control Agency and the Delhi government to issue necessary directions for implementation of a parking policy. In response to the Supreme Court’s directive, and in consultation with the concerned civic agencies of Delhi, the parking policy presented to the court stressed that private vehicle owners must pay the cost of using public spaces for parking. Parking policy cannot be based on the increase of parking supply, but on restricting the availability of parking in the city along with strict enforcement to prevent misuse of limited resources.