Hyderabad: Parking on inner roads to go

Hyderabad: Once the new parking policy of the GHMC gets the nod, motorists can no more park their vehicles on roads in front of independent houses or apartments. This will also reveal the extent of encroachment of parking space in various apartment complexes.

Speaking to this newspaper on the parking policy, GHMC commissioner Dr B. Janardhan Reddy said, “Such a policy is under consideration. This would require the help of private agencies and the traffic cops. GHMC alone cannot execute this. The corporation is currently working on providing more of parking space, and over 58,000 locations have been identified. These include six-lane or seven-lane main roads, where a space of 50 to 100 metres has been notified for parking. Another alternative is multi-level parking complexes, but this would require huge investment.”

The GHMC, he says, has invited parties to come on board on Private Public Partnership mode. “The city needs an integrated parking system as well as its enforcement. The GHMC is looking at state-of-the-art technology, wherein an application will be introduced. It would help inform a commuter about parking spaces available in a particular area, including the fee there.”

On commercial complexes like theatres charging exorbitant rates for parking, the GHMC does not have any policy to stop such establishments from charging a car-parking fee. This has been revealed in response to an RTI query. A court ruling in 2003 had asked the civic body to “take appropriate action” against those illegally collecting parking fee.

Most shopping malls in the city charge between Rs 10 and Rs 20 for four-wheelers and Rs 5 and Rs 10 for two-wheelers on an hourly basis. Shopping malls fall under the category of commercial complexes and parking spaces are considered by the civic body as commercial spaces.