The BMC will hear out resident associations and citizen groups on its controversial pay-and-park policy on Friday. It has called for a meeting of residents from Colaba who will give their suggestions and objections on the policy that was stayed by the state government in 2014.
dna had reported last month that the state government had asked the BMC to hear its suggestions and objections before taking any call on its new policy.
"The current policy can't be implemented as it has several flaws. The BMC will have to change it completely. Why should residents pay to park cars? The BMC can't behave like a private company and charge money for everything," said Raj Purohit, BJP legislator from Colaba.
The decision to ask the BMC to hold back the policy and hear out residents was taken last month by minister of state for urban development Ranjit Patil. Following BMC's move to implement a pay-and-park policy, which proposed a 300% hike in parking charges, residents had raised a hue and cry.
"BMC's policy has many loopholes. It wants to introduce night parking charges but the policy doesn't specify who will regulate parking. We will oppose any move where residents will be burdened," said Makarand Narvekar, citizen corporator from Colaba.
Patil has asked the BMC to submit a report on the policy after incorporating citizens' suggestions and objections. Additional municipal commissioner SVR Srinivas had confirmed the development to dna and said the BMC would hold a hearing for residents.
The BMC was to conduct a pilot project with the new policy in its A ward, which covers plush South Mumbai areas of Colaba, Fort and Cuffe Parade. According to the policy, the proposed residential parking rate for the island city — Colaba to Mahim — has been set at a steep Rs1,800 a month per car. The rates for western and eastern suburbs are Rs1,200 and Rs600 per month per car, respectively.
Following a year of the stay, the BMC had urged the state government to review it. The proposed parking policy had aimed to increase parking fees in congested areas like South Mumbai to discourage use of private vehicles on roads by proposing a parking charge of Rs60 per hour in prime localities.
Patil will take a call on the policy after the BMC submits its report.
Questions the policy throws up
With parking only allowed from 8pm to 8am, who will reserve the parking slots after that time? Residents will have to come and remove the cars every morning at 8am.
If someone parks a car in the reserved slots, who will get it removed? Has the BMC provided any security for the cars or is it appointing any security guards to monitor the parking?
What about two-wheelers? Will they be allowed to park on the streets?
What if a person has two or three cars? Will s/he be allowed to take reserved parking for all?
Who will enforce the policy if BMC is not appointing any contractor?
Who will park in the reserved slots during the day? What about parked trucks and commercial vehicles?
