JOIN USThe Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is contemplating a technology-enabled parking system to ease congestion in the city, but unless the root of the problem is addressed, such measures will only treat the symptoms and not cure the city of the disease. Parking in Bengaluru turned chaotic after the pay-and-park system was abolished in 2005 as a mafia was suspected to be pocketing huge sums of money collected from motorists. Unregulated and haphazard parking is one of the major contributing factors to traffic snarls. The new system mooted by BBMP involves installing sensors on 85 roads which will transmit information to a central monitoring cell on parking slots available. As this information will be accessible on the mobile phone through an app, a motorist can head straight to the available slot instead of driving in circles searching for one. The parking fees will be categorised as premium, commercial and general depending on the area. The system may bring some method to the madness but is unlikely to end the woes of motorists. It will provide only about 13,000 parking slots—3,000 for cars, 10,000 for two-wheelers for a city of 80 lakh vehicles.
The BBMP has no one but itself to blame for the anarchy reigning on our roads. Basements meant for parking have been converted into commercial spaces in most buildings, with the connivance of corporation officers, forcing vehicles to be parked on roads. Building laws are blatantly violated with permission being granted for structures which do not provide for the mandatory parking space. A vibrant public transport system, with first and last mile connectivity, is no doubt the ultimate solution, but the BBMP cannot wash its hands off its responsibility in the prevailing mess.
The BBMP should immediately clear all basements in commercial buildings across the city to make way for parking. In the future, permissions should be granted for buildings, residential apartments and educational institutions only if they provide for adequate parking area. The BBMP could also consider relaxing the Floor Area Ratio restrictions for the purpose of increasing parking space. The civic body should construct parking complexes in commercial areas and residential colonies, which will not only create a revenue stream for the corporation but also free up the roads for traffic movement. Every time a new extension is planned, the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) should compulsorily map parking areas, a practice that is not followed at present. The civic authorities have completely failed the people of Bengaluru and the situation might have already gone out of hand. Still, corrective steps may help mitigate the problem to some extent.