Heads up, Mumbaikars! Illegal parking might cost you Rs 10,000

From July 7, motorists who park their vehicles illegally in 1-km periphery of BMC parking lots or on internal roads connecting two main roads are likely to shell out as much as Rs 10,000 for the offence. The order to impose this whopping amount has come from BMC commissioner Praveen Pardeshi who had declared these places as No Parking Zones.

The new commissioner of the BMC is keen to implement a long-pending parking policy. The policy offers different parking rates on the basis of area. It also plans to charge monthly rent from those who park their vehicles on roads outside their buildings. "The charges should be as per commercial rent who use BMC's land (road) to park their expensive cars," Pardeshi had earlier mentioned in an interview to DNA.

To implement the policy, and to make effective planning for smooth vehicular traffic, BMC has taken a decision to levy a hefty fine on those who parked on BMC's land. The commissioner has ordered all the ward officers of 24 wards in the city to declare the 1-km periphery of BMC's parking lots and the internal roads which connect the two main roads as No Parking Zone.

There are 146 parking lots across the city with 34,808 parking capacity out of which around 3,000 are for two-wheelers. The commissioner has asked to appoint contractors along with mandatory recruitment of ex-servicemen. In the event of non-compliance, the vehicle will be towed away.

The BMC has even set up a parking authority to resolve the parking issues of the city under the development plan and promotion rules 2034. The authority will manage, control and plan road base parking facilities.

Earlier, the parking policy was approved in 2015 and implemented on a pilot basis in the A-ward. The parking policy involved a system of differential rates depending on how crowded the area was. The policy includes a monthly rental system for those who park on the road outside their buildings. Resident associations of A Ward approached the Chief Minister who put a stay on it and then lifted the stay in January 2017. However, the policy stays on the paper and the BMC wishes to bring stricter compliance.

In Figures

• 146 Parking lots in the city
• 34,808Parking capacity (including 3,000two-wheelers)