Bengaluru: Think before parking your vehicles outside your home! Soon, the transport department will penalise those parking their cars and two-wheelers in front of their homes, apartments and on main roads. The department had submitted a proposal under the Management and Maintenance of Parking Rules 2018 to the government, which has agreed that fines should be imposed on vehicles parked on roads in residential areas and on main roads in BBMP limits.
The fine amount will vary from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000 per day and may come into effect from July.
A senior officer from the transport department said, "The government agreed after it was observed that haphazard parking of vehicles on main roads and residential areas was causing traffic jams. To ensure that there is a free flow of vehicles, people will be penalised for causing traffic jams by parking wherever they find space."
He said, "It is a good move and we like to see it implemented soon. The BBMP will be in charge of monitoring the rules and also imposing penalties.
Before the enforcement, we will conduct a meeting with Resident Welfare Associations and BBMP and take their suggestions and make necessary arrangements."
A BBMP officer said, "It was a rule that was pending for a long time. Finally, the government has approved it. But enforcement will be a big task, as it can lead to corruption. We will hold meetings with senior officers and residents and see how things will pan out. We will start experimenting in a few areas initially and take feedback and by the end of August or September, the rule will be in force in all areas falling under the BBMP limits." The officer confirmed that the rule is applicable not only for residential areas, but also main roads, as
shopowners and customers will be penalised for illegal parking. Parking boards on main roads will also be gradually removed. He said that commercial buildings will have to ensure that their basement is cleared for parking of vehicles for customers and staff.
Buildings that do not have basement will have to find an alternative. He said, "People may ask where else would they park if not on roads in front of their houses.
For this, an Area Parking Plan (APP) is being prepared in every zone, where parking spaces will be identified and these spaces can be in apartments, vacant plots or commercial buildings. Once the APP is prepared, it will be submitted to the traffic police department, transport department and government to take the necessary approvals for parking of vehicles."
The officer agreed that it is a tedious process, but if implemented the right way, it could ease traffic movement in the city.
