The tender for appointing a software company for developing a mobile application for booking a spot at parking lots in South Mumbai is likely to be floated by Diwali, civic officials said. The tender document has already been prepared and is awaiting a nod from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner, Ajoy Mehta.
Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of A ward, said, “We have prepared the tender documents for the mobile app for booking at parking lots. Now, we need the civic chief’s permission to float it.” He said that if required, changes would be made to the app even at this stage.
According to civic officials, the app will be similar to ticket-booking apps, and will help citizens check vacancies in parking lots in a matter of seconds, thereby solving a long-standing problem.
“It is very difficult to find a parking space in Mumbai, especially during office hours,” said Dighavkar. He added that motorists will make the booking first, and then go to park their vehicles, thus helping to reduce the number of vehicles that roam on the roads in search of a lot.
The app will allow users to book space at any time for more than an hour, and make payments online. “The user will just show the e-invoice at the parking lot to make the reservation for the parking space,” said another civic official from A ward.
Initially, the civic body will provide for online booking at seven South Mumbai parking lots. The application will be extended to the suburbs later.
The BMC had come up with its parking policy at the beginning of the year.
