Metro commuters set to get FASTag-enabled smart parking facilities

Delhi Metro commuters are set to get FASTag-enabled smart parking facilities with dedicated parking spaces for persons with disabilities as part of efforts to promote seamless digital payments and improve accessibility, officials said on Monday.

The project, estimated to cost around Rs 1.26 crore, will cover the design, development, operation and maintenance of smart parking systems at the two stations, Jamia Millia Islamia and Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh stations initially, an official said.

According to project documents, parking payments will be accepted only through digital modes, including FASTag, UPI and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), debit cards, credit cards and e-wallets. Automatic boom barriers will regulate vehicle entry and exit at the parking facilities.

Under the proposed fee structure, car and SUV users will be charged Rs 30 for parking up to six hours and Rs 50 for up to 12 hours, while two-wheeler users will pay Rs 15 and Rs 25, respectively. Monthly passes have also been proposed for regular users.

Reserved parking spaces will continue to be available free of cost for DMRC employees at both stations. Around 102.5 square metres of space has been earmarked at Jamia Millia Islamia station and 170 square metres at Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh station for staff parking.

A senior DMRC official said the system is intended to reduce waiting time at parking lots, encourage cashless transactions and streamline vehicle movement and added that digital payment infrastructure has become an important component of modern urban mobility systems.

Special emphasis has been placed on accessibility under the proposed arrangement. Dedicated parking spaces with appropriate signage will be earmarked for persons with disabilities and located near parking entrances, station access ramps or lifts to ensure easier access to Metro services, he said.