MC fails to make smart moves on its own smart parking plans

Chandigarh: Nearly a decade after a smart parking system was first planned in the city, the MC has not managed to modernise parking facilities. In the three years of the civic body taking direct control of the management of parking lots following the end of private contractor arrangements, it has failed to enforce the most basic improvements it once mandated for contractors.Residents parking in lots managed by the MC still face inconveniences and chaos, with long queues, poor guidance, and outdated practices persisting.The MC's own request for proposals (RFPs) and contract terms included clear guidelines to enhance user experience, such as collecting parking fees only at the exit to prevent unnecessary congestion at entry points and not charging drivers who ultimately find no space. However, fee is still collected at the entry, leading to serpentine queues spilling onto approach and slip roads.Other unfulfilled prescriptions, such as parking attendants assisting motorists locate available spaces, guiding proper parking to optimise utilisation, ensuring smooth internal traffic flow to avoid congestion, and wearing clean uniforms with visible name tags, also remain on paper.Other measures which have not been implemented under direct MC management include displaying clear messages when no parking slots are available, installing CCTV surveillance at entry and exit points to detect encroachments or illegal parking, and enabling quick incident response.Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi sharply criticised the civic body, calling it an "utter failure" that highlights incompetence. "The MC had the opportunity to set an example of efficient parking management and improve convenience for residents. Even as it earns profits from the lots, it provides no basic facilities — no boom barriers, no attendant assistance for parking, no real-time information on available spaces. Even the simplest rule of charging at the exit isn't followed," he said. AAP councillor Yogesh Dhingra flagged repeated parking fee hikes — from Rs 10 to Rs 12, and now to Rs 14 — promising better conditions that never materialised. "How much does it cost to instruct attendants to collect fees at the exit? With revenue from these hikes, couldn't the MC install CCTV cameras for better management and security? It could have led by example for future private operators, but it failed completely," he rued. Ongoing issues underscore broader delays in the city's long-promised smart parking initiatives, including AI-based systems, FASTag integration, and real-time availability displays—elements that remain stalled or scaled back despite years of planning and public expectations.As parking woes persist amid rising vehicle numbers, residents continue to demand accountability and tangible upgrades from the civic body that directly profits from their daily parking struggles.MC commissioner Pradeep Kumar said, "We introduced the MC one-pass, which will resolve exit and entry issues. Other improvements are also being worked out."MC has initiated the process to rope in private contractors to run the parking lots.BOX: MC not following own prescription— Collecting parking fees only at the exit — Parking attendants assisting motorists locate available spaces — Displaying clear messages when no parking slots are available — Installing CCTV surveillance at entry and exit points — Lack of boom barriers, parking attendants in uniforms and name badgesMSID:: 128756710 413 |