Parking to get costlier in Hyderabad

Brace yourself! Parking in the c ity is set to get costlier in the coming weeks. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is drafting a new parking policy. According to the draft copy, the civic body would set up four major parking complexes in all four directions that can accommodate about 500 vehicles. It would also set up a Central Parking Development Authority (CPDA), comprising of Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, Traffic police, RTC and other officials.

New parking policy includes

• Multi-level parking complexes in the core city
• Four mega parking lots at metro terminals
• Enhanced fees at complexes
• Fees to be doubled after every 20 minutes

According to a GHMC official, the Corporation with a vision to strengthen the public transport system and free vehicular movement has decided to establish multi-level parking complexes in the core city. The Corporation has decided to charge a nominal fee for vehicle parking in the city outskirts and impose heavy charges in the core city. The CPDA would monitor entire parking system in the city.

A senior official told The Hans India that the four mega parking lots would be constructed at metro terminals so that the people can park their vehicles in the outskirts and enter the city through public transport. He informed that this move not only decreases the number of vehicles entering into the city but also improves public transport system. “The Corporation has already marked two places including Madhapur and Uppal metro terminal and is hunting for the remaining,” said the official.

In addition, he said that in order to minimise vehicle usage within the city the Corporation is planning to enhance fee in all parking complexes in the core city so that people would park their vehicles for shorter duration and eventually accommodate space for others vehicles. He said that the parking fee would be doubled for every 20 minutes. However, the official said that there will be an exemption during medical emergency.

The official said that the Corporation would relax rules to private players who come forward to take up the multi-level parking complexes. This would include tax incentives, relaxed building permission rules and others by the Corporation in order encourage private parties. He also said that in return the Corporation would share the income generated from these parking complexes. “The corporation will set up no parking zones for free vehicular movements across the city. The new parking policy would come in to effect from the second half of the year,” said the official.

By Maddy Deekshith