Pune Municipal Corporation Set To Launch ‘Pay and Park’ Pilot Project On 5 Key Roads
Pune: PMC To Roll Out ‘Pay and Park’ At Five Key Locations
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to pilot a ‘pay and park’ initiative on five significant roads in the city. This scheme aims to mitigate traffic congestion and enhance road usage. Approval from the state urban development department is pending, as the proposal was submitted in the absence of local political representatives. The ‘pay and park’ idea dates back to 2016, initially introduced in Pune’s parking policy and formally approved by the standing committee in 2018. However, political disagreements delayed its implementation. To resolve this, a general body meeting formed an all-party committee under the then Mayor Mukta Tilak to review the policy within six months.
The PMC’s traffic planning department identified 38 roads for the potential ‘pay and park’ system, categorizing them into commercial, residential, and semi-commercial zones. Despite considering a rollout across state assembly constituencies, no final decision was made.
Under the new proposal, Pune is divided into three congestion zones: central business districts, mobility corridors, and other areas. Parking fees will vary by time of day. From 8 am to 10 pm, two-wheelers will be charged ₹2 to ₹4 per hour for on-street parking and ₹1 to ₹3 for off-street parking. Overnight fees will be fixed.
The trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the pay-and-park system in reducing congestion and improving road efficiency. The results will significantly influence future parking policies in Pune.
Kamya Jaipuriya from Kalyani Nagar commented, “Pay-and-park exists in Camp, but parking is still at owners’ risk. There should be allocated spaces on unused plots to avoid roadside parking.” Ananya Panchal, a frequent visitor to FC Road, added, “The initiative to streamline parking is positive, but there should be no overcharging.”
An anonymous traffic planning department official stated, “We have proposed five roads: Jangli Maharaj (J M) Road, Fergusson College (F C) Road, High Street Road (Balewadi), North Main Road (Koregaon Park), and Viman Nagar Road. After state government approval, we will implement pay-and-park under parking policy norms.”
The outcome of this experimental phase will be crucial in shaping Pune’s parking policies and addressing long-standing traffic issues.
