BBMP to deploy new private agencies to collect parking fees on 14 roads

Bengaluru: The BBMP plans to outsource the collection of parking fees on 14 roads in the city's core area to a new set of private agencies.

Some of these roads — located in the BBMP’s East Zone — already have a pay-and-park system in place, while parking remains free on others. The civic body aims to generate Rs 7 crore annually from these roads.

The fresh move to float tenders follows controversy over the BBMP's recent decision to directly engage private people to operate paid parking facilities. Higher authorities reprimanded the zonal office for bypassing the standard tender process.

DH had reported about this in December last year.

The BBMP's tender document shows that the private agency will be authorised to charge Rs 15 per hour for two-wheelers and Rs 30 per hour for cars. These rates are relatively high compared to Namma Metro, which charges Rs 15 for the first four hours for two-wheelers and a maximum of Rs 30 for a full day. Car parking fees at Namma Metro are exactly double those amounts.

The BBMP first introduced the paid parking system in August 2020, but it quickly ran into issues when the agency managing the system — expected to pay Rs 31 crore for handling parking on 81 roads — defaulted on payments, citing multiple challenges. Even for managing just 11 roads, the civic body received only Rs 28 lakh over three years.

Despite this, the private agency continued to overcharge users, imposing a penalty of Rs 500 for exceeding the paid hours instead of simply charging for the additional time parked.

The roads that will now have new parking operators: 

Brigade Road
Museum Road to MG Road
Lavelle Road to Kasturba Road
MG Road
Kamaraj Road
Wood Street to Castle Street
Magrath Road to Hosmat Hospital
Langford Road
Dickenson Road
Crescent Road to Rest House Road
Church Street
Dispensary Road