Hike surface parking rates: Expert

While the users and the operators are yet to come to terms with the usefulness of Sarojini Nagar market’s multi-level parking, which completed one year on Friday, a transport planning expert dismisses it as an ideal solution to the parking woes in the city.

P K Sarkar, a professor in the department of transport planning at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), says that the multi-level parking would not serve the purpose if the conditions under which they are being operated currently.

“First of all, multi-level parkings are required only if there is no alternative. If it is required at all, they need to be backed by a proper action plan. In order to make them a success, the government needs to eliminate roadside parking and making it mandatory for all motorists to park their vehicles in the multi-level parking.

Else, surface parking should be made so exorbitant that people have no other option but to use the facility. Otherwise, such facilities at cramped places like Sarojini Nagar market would only add up to the chaos instead of decongesting it,” said Sarkar.

The expert further said that the city would not require multi-level parkings once a robust and integrated mass transit network like Delhi metro is put in place.

Ideal solution

“Around 1,100 new vehicles are being rolled out on the capital everyday. In that context, an ideal solution for all parking and traffic woes in the city is mass transit facility of Delhi Metro. With a well-laid feeder service, if Delhi Metro becomes a reality, such facilities would lose relevance any way. People would prefer taking Metro to Sarojini Nagar market than their own car,” said Sarkar.  

According to the latest figures released by the Delhi government, the total number of vehicles registered in the city has touched 74 lakh.