Parking fees will have to go up
Ajay Maken, Union minister of state for urban development
On solutions to the parking crisis
We have brought out the National Urban Transport Policy. The idea is to encourage efficient public transport, the absence of which results in the parking crisis and congestion. Transport is a state subject, and some of the states have shown enthusiasm, taking up public transport projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Jaipur, Indore and Ahmedabad have taken up high-capacity bus systems.
On higher parking fees
Local bodies have to do this. It will be a win-win situation: the local bodies will have more money and roads and public spaces will be freed, speeding up transport. Unfortunately, this is not on the agenda of local bodies. So people are unwilling to pay even Rs 10 to park at a prime location like Delhi's Connaught Place.Local bodies have to be told that parking fees must be increased.
On political difficulties of hiking parking fees
We need to look for success stories of high parking fees and good public transport. These will have to be communicated to the people.
On restricting second cars
Our Master Plan for Delhi calls for measures from the state government to ask people to inform the authorities about parking availability before registering a new vehicle. This rule is there for registering buses in Delhi, and unfortunately not for private vehicles.
On multilevel parking
I'm for it as long as its location is such that we get optimum benefit out of that, for example, near Metro stations and bus stops. It should be planned in a way that it links to public transport. Initially, no investor was interested in multilevel parking. Commercialising one floor is a compromise to get it going. Eventually, parking prices will have to rise.
On parking violence
I live in Rajouri Garden, where lanes are narrow and reputations depend on the size of the car. I hear of disputes over parking all the time. People demand more parking space. This should be a deterrent for people from buying cars.
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