Turn backyard into parking lot, make fast buck

HYDERABAD: In possible bonanza for owners of open plots that are strategically located, the TRS government has decided to invite proposals for conversion of their open and vacant lands for off-street parking facilities. This will not only lead to plot owners making some money but also give a big relief to congested roads and by-lanes. The individual plot owners should obtain necessary licence from GHMC and collect parking fee at the rates determined by the civic body.
Hyderabad city has been growing at an unprecedented rate ever since the formation of the state and with very focused attention on creation of employment opportunities. With its growth comes increase in traffic and number of vehicles including private vehicles, especially cars and two wheelers. With around 700 vehicles being added to Hyderabad roads each day, the increasing traffic and parking woes are causing hardships to the people.
The proposed parking system is designed in such a way that it will be win-win situation wherein the open plots, especially those near roads, malls, commercial areas and institutions are used for parking lots and thereby increasing the number of parking lots and reducing stress on roads and preventing haphazard roadside parking and at the same time will also create revenue for those plot owners.
“Municipal minister KT Rama Rao has taken the initiative to address the parking woes in the city and also proposed a comprehensive parking policy. GHMC and police will work together on the draft parking policy,” said a senior official in the municipal administration department.
Municipal administration minister KT Rama Rao in a recent meeting with newly appointed principal secretary Arvind Kumar, had expressed concern over lack of proper parking places and the immediate need to operationalize GO Ms 187 dated July 7, 2017. The GO among other things emphasizes off street parking lots, more specifically provision 5.7-C which talks about development and use of private open plots for the purpose of parking facility.
Parking will be categorized into street parking, short-stay parking, residential parking, government offices, open space parking for heavy vehicles, and parking in bus stands, metro rail stations. Accordingly, the parking fee will be decided. The plot owners can even offer monthly fee or annual fee from the commercial and business organisations with an intimation to the GHMC. The additional commissioner GHMC (estates and Housing) G Ramesh has been appointed as the designated officer for this purpose.
All interested plot owners should get in touch with him at his mobile number 9949546622 or can be contacted at acestateshousing@gmail.com . Upon receiving the requests, the GHMC will examine the feasibility of such locations in terms of likely traffic and licenses for the useful eligible sites will be issued on a short term basis ( 3 or 6 months or for a year) and rates of parking fee will be prescribed which will have to be followed. A license fee will have to be paid by such owners.