Parking Charges Likely to Double in Lutyens' Delhi - Know More

New Delhi: To combat soaring air pollution in Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) is set to double parking fees. This measure aims to incentivize residents to opt for public transportation, reducing vehicular emissions.

A senior NDMC official confirmed the decision, stating that the order for the fee hike would be issued shortly. Under the current rates, four-wheelers pay ₹20 per hour (capped at ₹100 daily) for surface parking, while two-wheelers pay ₹10. Multi-level parking costs ₹10 for cars and ₹5 for two-wheelers for up to four hours.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has yet to implement a parking fee increase, as the proposal is still awaiting approval from the House. The MCD's parking rates are determined through auctions.

Delhi's recent air quality deterioration, characterized by a thick layer of smog, has prompted the enforcement of Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This measure includes restrictions on coal, firewood, and diesel generator sets. The last parking fee hike occurred in October 2023 when GRAP II was implemented. 

The civic body's decision will come after a thick layer of smog had started enveloping Delhi in the morning for the past few days as the city's air quality deteriorated to the 'very poor' category. The deterioration in air quality led to prompting enforcement of Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the national capital, which enforces a ban on the use of coal and firewood, including tandoors in hotels, restaurants, and open eateries, as well as diesel generator sets, except for emergency and essential services. 

The parking charges were doubled last year too after GRAP II was enforced on October 21, 2023.