In a rather innovating bid to discourage the use of private vehicles and curb illegal parking, the SDMC has proposed ‘Prohibitive Parking Charges’ in all the non-parking zones like public streets where parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited.
Without legalising parking in these areas, the corporation plans to impose a hefty fee ranging from 300 to SDMC proposes prohibitive parking fines Rs 750 for parking of vehicles. As per the proposal, the car users will have to pay Rs 300 for one hour while Rs 750 for three hours. The car owners will have to pay Rs 150 for every successive hour. Similarly, the two-wheelers will have to shell out Rs 200 for the first hour and Rs 500 for up to three hours. Thereafter, Rs 100 per hour will be charged on exceeding the three-hour limit.
This, however, will be at owners’ risk as the Delhi Traffic Police will be free to penalise the motorists under relevant Sections of the MV Act. This is for the first time that such a parking fee is being introduced in Delhi which is reeling under acute shortage of parking space and the ever-increasing vehicular population is aggravating the crisis. “The concept of prohibitive parking charges is proposed to be implemented in all non-parking zones. This fee is for the use of road space or public space for parking and the owner is liable for penal/ prosecution action under MV Act or DMC Act,” the proposed amendment in the parking policy by SDMC said.
Officials said the SDMC would designate specific streets outside residential colonies and authorised parking lots as non-parking zones in consultation with the Delhi Traffic Police. They said private concessionaires would be appointed through tendering process for collection of the prohibitory parking charges. “lack of prohibitive parking charges in non-parking zones combined with low quantum of penalty add to the situation of making traffic violations a low- risk exercise for the motorists,” they said.