New parking policy on the anvil
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) set the ball rolling for the new parking policy. The civic body authorities claimed that the new parking policy norms are under process, as per which the motorists can park vehicles for free of cost at all malls, cinema halls, hotels, restaurants, function halls, commercial complexes, industries and other establishments.
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) set the ball rolling for the new parking policy. The civic body authorities claimed that the new parking policy norms are under process, as per which the motorists can park vehicles for free of cost at all malls, cinema halls, hotels, restaurants, function halls, commercial complexes, industries and other establishments.
According to Section 115 (40) of the GHMC Act 1955, the parking places or common areas in a multi storied commercial complex are public place and nobody can claim absolute right to regulate and levy fees. According to GHMC official, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department had already released a GO 187 dated 7 July 2017, pertaining to the new parking policy. However, the GO did not mention the parking facilities to be provided in malls, cinema halls, function halls, commercial complexes, industries and other establishments.
In order to give clear directions and make parking free for citizens, the State government decided to issue a GO in a couple of days. This had been decided in a high-level meeting with the MA&UD Minister K Taraka Rama Rao.
When queried about the same, a senior GHMC official on condition of anonymity told The Hans India, that the New Building Rules issued in 2012 only talk about provision of parking facility in multi-storied complexes and state that multiplexes and malls have to provide 60 per cent of the total built up area for parking; hotels, restaurants and cinema halls have to provide 40 per cent of their built-up area (seating capacity) for parking. Another 10 per cent must be earmarked at residential spaces for visitors parking at apartments.
The GHMC official further said in order to stop the money minting in the name of parking, the State government had decided to issue a new policy where all commercial establishments, hospitals, malls, and others have to provide free parking for citizens.
He said the civic body by following the instructions laid by government, would initiate legal action against all the establishments if they demand parking fee from the citizens. He said the government would release clear instructions about the free parking in various establishments and action for violating the norms in couple of days.
