Smart parking: MDDA calls move a success, residents not convinced

Dehradun: The app-based ‘Smart Parking’ project of Mussoorie

Dehradun

Development Authority (MDDA) which was proposed as the solution to parking woes of the city was introduced in late January this year. Six months down the line, has the system really improved the parking scenario in the city? While MDDA officials term it a success, residents say that under the new system, commuters are still parking on the roads, only now they have to pay Rs 20 to Rs 30 for it.

Yeshveer Arya, a resident of Canal Road, said, “No new parking facility has been developed by the MDDA. All it has done is to put up boards at spaces where people used to park before and charge them for it. This is causing more jams on roads that are already busy. Had they built new parking facilities, the city would have suffered less traffic snarls.”

MDDA on the other hand contended that the move had regularised the practice of parking on the road. “We have significantly reduced the number of vehicles parked randomly in the middle of the road, while also earning revenue from the process. Based on its success, we are planning to develop similar parking spots across the city, especially under flyovers,” said MDDA’s transport and urban planner, Jagmohan (who goes only by his first name).

He added that several city authorities, including police, had written to the MDDA, wanting to use similar models to ease bottlenecks in the city. “The model has been a success till now. No vehicle (parked under the ‘Smart Parking’) has been reported stolen or damaged. This may well be the long-term solution to parking woes of the city,” he said.

MDDA says it has earned Rs 21 lakh by charging 1.21 lakh vehicles at over two dozen parking spots on Rajpur Road since January.

However, residents say that the scheme leaves a lot to be desired. Much of the criticism is directed towards what residents believe to be high parking rates. “They charge you Rs 20 for parking a two-wheeler and Rs 30 for a four-wheeler, even if you want to park your vehicle for only 10 minutes. For instance, if someone wants to park their vehicle just to buy vegetables, he or she has to pay an extra amount as parking fee,” said Ramesh Kashyap, a resident of Jakhan.