Parking Rules:
We cannot go without saying that the population of Delhi is rising with every passing day. This has led to an enormous increase in personal vehicle commuters. Due to the lack of parking spaces, these vehicles are parked on public streets or on the roads.
Under Motor Vehicle Regulations, parking is referred to as bringing a vehicle to a stationary position for more than 3 minutes. It has been noticed that people usually park anywhere without keeping in mind that a specific parking space is allotted for parking.
Under section 127 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, if a motor vehicle is left unattended or abandoned in a public place for ten hours or more, or is parked in a legally prohibited space, it can be removed by towing or its immobilization, including wheel clamping, can be done by an authorised police officer on duty having jurisdiction. Also, if any abandoned, damaged, or burnt car is parked in a public space, causing traffic or causing obstruction to the general public, it can be towed immediately. The owner of the vehicle will be responsible for all towing costs, as well as any other penalties.
If any vehicle is kept at rest in a public place where it is capable of causing obstruction, danger, or inconvenience to others, then you can be penalised under section 122 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
According to the Motor Vehicle (Driving) Regulations, 2017, parking a vehicle is prohibited in these areas:
- on a sidewalk;
- cycle track;
- close to a bus stop;
- pedestrian crossing;
- obstructing access to designated parking spaces;
- at the front door of a school or hospital;
- within a tunnel;
- in front of a property’s entrance or exit;
- in the opposite direction of any other parked vehicle;
- Within the barriers of a railway crossing
Parking at these illegal spaces causes congestion between the roads. To avoid these roadblocks, the new parking rules were introduced by the government of Delhi under the “Delhi Maintenance and Management of Parking Places Rules, 2019”.
- The fixation of parking rates was allotted to the base parking fee committee, headed by the transport commissioner.
- The base fee was meant to be revised every year.
- Preference was given to short-duration parking.
The changes were applied to various places, including on-street parking as well as residential parking.
ON-STREET PARKING
- The prices were quoted at twice the amount in comparison to off-street parking, especially during peak hours, allowing some distance from intersections on each side of the road.
- Towing charges faced a hike due to the sloppy parking choices of people.
- Surface parking was not allowed within 500 meters of multi-level parking.
- If any on-street parking is offered, then it needs to be priced at least three times more than other parking rates.
- If the ‘off-site parking facility’ is more than 200 meters away, then shuttle service is provided (charges included in parking fees). For example, a shuttle service is provided inside the AIIMS campus in Delhi because its parking is way too far for people to communicate by walking.
- Parking spaces could be reserved for people who park almost daily, and they could have a token system.
RESIDENTIAL PARKING
- Parking is only permitted in the area allotted for car parking. Open areas can be used as parking lots by paying a fee (excluding parks).
- Parking vehicles on the footpath is not allowed, and if seen, they can be towed away.
- Residential colonies are advised to set up an emergency path where no parking is allowed, even for the residents.
- Owners with vacant plots are advised to give their parking space to other people till the plot gets occupied.