Move meant to discourage Delhiites from using their cars as pollution has reached its peak in the national capital.
NEW DELHI
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has raised parking fees at its 38 parking stations to combat the increasing pollution in the NDMC region. The NDMC has taken this decision to discourage Delhiites from using their cars at a time when pollution has reached its peak in Delhi.
An officer from the NDMC parking department said that this decision was being implemented with immediate effect in the south zone of NDMC, including places like Kartavya Path, Khan Market, Sarojini Nagar, Chanakyapuri, INA Market, and many more. The aim was to curb vehicular pollution and make Delhiites aware of the need to use public transport instead of private cars.
Currently, NDMC charges a minimum of Rs 10 and Rs 20 per hour for both two- and four-wheelers, respectively, and a maximum of Rs 50 and Rs 100 for two- and four-wheelers in a day. The new rates will be in effect until 31 January next year. The order states, “We will charge Rs 40 per hour for four-wheelers and Rs 20 for two-wheelers at 38 parking lots managed by our staff, and the rest of the parking lots managed by the private contractors, mostly around Mandi House, will remain unaffected.”
The notice said that with the AQI rising inexorably in the city, the Commission for Air Quality Management implemented the provisions of the Graded Response Action Plan on 21 October, which included enhancing parking fees to discourage the use of private vehicles. “In compliance with the above and keeping the climatic conditions in mind, the parking fees (off-road and on-road) have been enhanced to twice the existing ones to discourage private transport for the parking managed by NDMC through its staff until 31 January 2024. The changes are implemented with immediate effect,” the order states.
In 2017 too, the NDMC took a similar decision to increase the parking rates four times. However, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has no plans to hike the parking fees as their parking sites are run by private contractors, an official said.