After the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) announced steep hike in parking rates under its jurisdiction, the other two civic bodies — North and East Delhi Corporation — are expected to follow suit. Sources said they are also “actively considering” similar proposals.
As per the new proposal approved by the Standing Committee of SDMC, hourly rate for cars has been increased from Rs10 to Rs20, and for two-wheelers from Rs7 to Rs10. The South Corporation’s Standing Committee, under outgoing chairman Satish Upadhyay, had on Thursday approved the proposal, which will now be placed before SDMC House for final approval.
Increased parking rates for areas in North Delhi and East Delhi are also on the cards as the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) are likely to follow suit, to bring uniformity in parking charges across the city. “The proposal is under active consideration in the two civic bodies (NMC and EDMC) and we are waiting for them to be tabled in the respective Standing Committees,” Director (Press & Information) for NMC and EDMC Yogendra Singh Mann said.
Meanwhile, Satish Upadhyay, who resigned from the post the Chairman of the Standing Committee to focus on his party responsibilities as the BJP Delhi Unit chief, said the hike was reasonable and only marginal.
“This was due for a long time and I believe the hike is very reasonable. For cars, it is just a hike of Rs10 per hour and people go and pay for parking in malls too. And, though we had plans for premium parking, but we have not made provisions for them as yet,” Upadhyay said, adding, “This will also help in tackling parking mafia.”
Opposition Congress in SDMC, however, said the move would not really have an impact on such mafia. “Parking mafia will continue to mint money. This move will only put additional burden on the public,” said Opposition leader Farhad Suri.