Shell out more at parking lots from Jan

Mumbaikars will now have to shell more money for on-street vehicles' parking as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set to finally operate its first ten on-street public parking lots (PPLs) as per the new parking policy which has hiked parking rate. The ten on-street PPLs are starting in mid-January and five more will be operational in February as per BMC officials.

After the state government lifted the stay on the new parking policy earlier this year, the BMC started floating the tenders to appoint contractors to operate and maintain its 92 on-street PPLs. The objective of the new parking policy is to create more parking space in the city in an organised manner owing to a rapid rise in the cars plying on the city's roads.

Of the ten PPLs to start next month, seven are in A ward (Colaba, Churchgate) and one respectively in Worli, Mahalaxmi and Andheri East. These PPLs as per the new parking policy are divided into two categories, A and B, based on their locations. For 'A' category, parking rates start from Rs 60 for an hour to Rs 210 for 12 hours. While, for 'B' category, parking rates are Rs 40 for one hour to Rs 140 for 12 hours.

"For the ten on-street PPLs, we have already issued the Letter of Acceptance to the contractors and the PPLs will begin in mid-January. For five more PPLs, the issue of letters is in process.

"However, for the rest over 70 on-street PPLs across 24 civic wards, the tenders have not received a response from the contractors to operate and maintain them. As the PPLs have reservations for women self-help groups and unemployed youth, the tenders are not getting a wide response", an officer from BMC's Roads and Transport department said.

PARKING CHARGES

For 'A' category - Rs 60 for one hour upto Rs 210 for 12 hours

For 'B' category - Rs 40 for one hour upto Rs 140 for 12 hours

Parking charges at present - Any location Rs 20 for one hour and up to Rs 70 for 12 hours