TrafficInfraTech Magazine Linking People Places & Progress
Promote efficient utilisation of existing spaces: Surface parking will continue to remain the cost effective model of parking in Indian cities. Field assessment shows that the present parking contractors are utilising the available spaces very effectively and maximising earnings from them. But there is still further scope of qualitative improvements and there is considerable international guidance on this matter that can provide the basis for such improvements. However, surface parking, especially on-street parking, should be progressively curtailed in areas where structured parking is being constructed. Promote shared parking for maximum utilisation of existing spaces. As far as possible, parking spaces should be managed as common areas.
Careful review of setting of commercial complexes and shopping malls to prevent spillovers and congestion: Cities are witnessing massive boom in the construction of mega commercial complexes that induce huge traffic, increase parking demand and congestion in the neighbourhood. It is very important to review the setting of these structures to prevent such fallouts. Often these complexes lead to massive spillovers in the surrounding roads that lead to more congestion. This aspect should be thoroughly reviewed through site impact analysis. Special measures are needed to review appropriateness of the setting of large commercial complexes that generate enormous traffic and parking needs much beyond the capacity of the site.
Develop parking strategies for residential areas: Parking provision in most residential areas is very ad hoc and in most cases, the building bylaws that define the parking norms are not met. This often goes awry due to multiple ownership of car and densification of the residential units. Often, car numbers exceed the available parking spaces. In some parts of Delhi, residential areas have opted for self-regulation. There is considerable scope for application of wide ranging parking strategies that can meet parking demand and at the same time, reduce cars. Develop innovative strategies for residential parking that while meeting the basic demand, put brake on multiple ownership of cars by families.
Special challenge of mixed land-use areas: This is the most daunting challenge in Indian cities. Most Indian cities have dense mixed land-use areas that make them compact and amenable to public transit oriented growth. In countries like Singapore, mixed land-use areas are well planned. But in India, this has not been the case in many places. Parking pressure is one of the most important causes of congestion in these areas.
Improve management coordination and enforcement: Create institutional interface to address parking pricing, management & parking regulations and enforcement across jurisdictions in a composite manner. Ultimately, the traffic management authority should be able to effectively enforce a restrictive parking policy to collect parking fee, and to fine offenders. Any institutional weakness can undermine the entire initiative.
Reinvent mobility: Cars are overwhelming the urban space and road infrastructure. They have eroded public spaces and urban commons to meet the insatiable need for roads and parking. Cars are locking up enormous resources to provide mobility to a minority? bringing in their wake unacceptable social inequity and pollution. Public transport, pedestrians and cyclists are the immediate victims of this car mania. This car dependency can be reversed with right policies. City governments can discourage car usage while improving access to more sustainable forms of transport.
Limiting parking supply
Parking restraint measures have been in use internationally for over 30 years and are widely used traffic management tools to reduce traffic congestion. These measures have made an impact on parking and travel demand and also on congestion in cities where these have been implemented. Success of many of these schemes presents a model for designing a package of measures in Delhi and other Indian cities as well. Experience around the world shows that parking measures require a great amount of detailing depending on the objectives and site-specific features. Broadly, the measures cover appropriate pricing of both off-street and on-street parking to influence parking demand; controlled parking zones, removal of on-street parking during peak periods; pedestrian-only streets; and new developments are regulated by the maximum parking that can be allowed.
With increased saturation of the available urban space for parking, focus is shifting towards the green areas and neighbourhood parks to provide surface as well as underground parking. This will require special protection. Underground parking below parks may be a probable solution but it should be done without disturbing the green areas on the surface. Every city would require safeguards to prevent erosion of green cover for parking provision. Similarly, walkway protection from parking encroachment will have to be accorded priority.
The following principles for residential parking may be considered:
? It is important to encourage and promote common public/shared/priced parking, no matter who owns it and where. Personal private parking spaces should be discouraged.
? Residential parking ? both on-street and off-street ? will also have to be priced. Residential parking permits that can be purchased for on-street parking may be allowed. As mentioned earlier, even if FSI and building bye-laws are relaxed and more parking is allowed outside the allowable FSI, it will have to be priced and market driven. Parking should be treated as leasable floor space rather than as a service for buildings. This will influence how supply and pricing decisions are made regarding parking.
? Cost of residential units may be de-linked from the cost of the parking space. Payment for the parking space may be done separately and directly.
The above measures may ultimately lead to containing and better managing the parking demand in urban areas.
Rahul Tiwari
Senior Manager (Planning)
DDF Consultants Pvt Ltd
(Rahul Tiwari, formerly a Research Associate with IIT Madras, was part of the team which conducted a Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Study (CTTS) in Chennai. He was involved in the Transportation and Pedestrian Master Plan for the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi).
Yashi Mishra
Disaster Management and Social Science
Expert, New Delhi
(Yashi, with an MBA in Disaster Management, is doing research on the ?Impact of Transportation Policies on Society?)