New Parking Policy: Planned parking is the need of the hour

The new policy will help prepare area traffic management plans, streamline on-street parking, regulate residential parking and transport vehicles

Rapid growth of population coupled with the improving socio-economic conditions of people and high concentration of motor vehicles in Bengaluru has resulted in phenomenal growth of traffic on the city roads. Traffic congestion is the obvious consequence especially when the scope for expansion of road space is severely limited.

Lack of adequate parking facilities and unregulated parking have also led to traffic congestion resulting in increased journey time, pollution and traffic indiscipline on roads. There is an urgent need to evolve sustainable parking strategies to optimally utilise the available parking spaces and increase parking facilities.

Parking management, defined in a broad sense, can be an effective tool to reduce traffic and associated issues in congested areas by encouraging travellers to use modes other than driving alone. Parking management also refers to policies and programmes that result in more efficient use of parking resources.

Economic benefits

When appropriately applied, parking management can significantly reduce the number of parking spaces required in a particular situation, providing a variety of economic, social and environmental benefits. In order to ensure optimum utilisation of parking spaces and to encourage public transport, the Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had adopted a comprehensive parking policy developed by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) in the year 2012. This policy needed review due to subsequent developments in the traffic and transport scenario in the city.

The new Parking Policy brought out by DULT is a welcome initiative and provides an elaborate and workable framework to streamline parking in Bengaluru City.

Multiple objectives

The objectives of the new Parking Policy are: Move from chaotic parking to well-organised parking; Move from free parking to paid parking; Move from Government-driven parking supply to market-driven parking supply and management; Move from passive and weak enforcement of parking regulations to active management of parking demand.

Towards these objectives, the new Parking Policy aims at preparation of area traffic management plans, streamlining on-street parking, regulation of residential parking and regulation of transport vehicles. The policy clearly identifies a framework on parking charges for various localities.

The policy also provides for periodical revision of parking fee structure. It also envisages demarcating the parking areas by physical means such as curbs, bulb-outs, signages and pavement markings. It also suggests measures to prevent long term on-street parking, which is a welcome move. The policy envisages scientifically analysed methods in fixing the parking fee depending on the congestion index and land value.

Decongesting city

It is noteworthy that the plan proposes shifting of strategic wholesale markets to other peripheral locations to decongest the city centre. This apart, locations in Peripheral Ring Road and Outer Ring Road strategic points are proposed to be used as bus terminals (Satellite Bus Stations) is a good idea in easing the traffic.

The policy also covers provision for parking school buses, construction vehicles and freight vehicles. The new Parking Policy provides regulations for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) influence zones through reduction of parking requirements.

This is possible through providing more incentives for people to shift from private mode of transport to mass transit facilities such as Metro and buses. It also helps in reclaiming public land for more equitable uses.

The policy is expected to bring all public parking under one roof and modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools will be utilized to disseminate information to the general public regarding available parking slots. In case of any parking violations, the Traffic Police will enforce the law.

Multi-Level parking

It is hoped that in the long run, authorities will aim to provide multilevel parking lots wherever possible to help citizens to park their vehicles and reclaim illegal parking lots and prevent commercial utilisation of parking lots for other purposes by private persons.

The policy contains a robust revenue generation model. The revenue can be utilised for improving road safety and to create additional parking infrastructure. Considering the above facts, it can be concluded that the new Parking Policy will be effective in bringing order in the parking management system of the City.

Once implemented, the policy will go a long way in ensuring effective traffic management in the city resulting in comfortable commuting for the road users.

(The author is Additional Director General of Police, Administration; former Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Bengaluru City)