ParkMate – Addressing Urban Parking Woes

According to the latest reports from the transport department, on an average, 193 cars were registered and 460 new bikes were on the roads every day in 2024 in Mumbai and 1800 vehicles were added daily to the roads in Delhi, even as the road length remained almost the same. With the vehicle population almost 3 times the capacity of the road, manifold congestion and parking woes continue to be on the rise. ParkMate, a Delhi-based start-up specialising in valet aggregation, prime parking and D2C services, offers real-time parking experience that has proved popular with customers in their area of operation. Abhimanyu Singh, Co-Founder & COO, ParkMate SPS Pvt. Ltd., shares with Trafficinfratech his company’s vision and expansion plans.

The startup ecosystem in India has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, thanks to increasing government initiatives, an expanding investor base, and rising consumer adoption of technology. Programs such as Startup India, the advent of incubators and government-backed funding mechanisms, have collectively fuelled the sector. However, a gap analysis reveals challenges such as the need for greater focus on last-mile infrastructure and the lack of integration between traditional systems and emerging technologies. Addressing these gaps could unlock further potential, making mobility solutions more inclusive and accessible to a wider demographic.

“At ParkMate, we aim to solve the critical problem of parking inefficiency, which often exacerbates urban congestion, says Abhimanyu. “Unlike aero mobility, which reimagines travel through drones and air transport, our focus remains grounded—yet vital—in optimizing the space where vehicles rest. Our solutions leverage AI, IoT, and data analytics to transform parking from a hassle into a seamless experience. Our target group is diverse, encompassing urban commuters, real estate developers, and public institutions.”

ParkMate’s free, ‘Drop & Shop’ app can give the user secure, real-time, confirmed parking at the desired destination. Once the user arrives, he is greeted by a dedicated valet assigned specifically to him. This trained professional takes charge and parks the vehicle at the nearest parking spot securely. Every ParkMate attendant undergoes a rigorous training program that includes grooming, customer handling, driver training for all car types, app usage, crisis management and basic legal know-how. The attendant is OTP verified and the vehicle, GPS-tagged, allowing the owner to track its movement. The ‘Get my car’ option can be used to retrieve the vehicle from any suitable point. To further enhance trust and transparency, ParkMate shares 360-degree images of the vehicle before and after delivery with the customer. The ParkMate app is available on both Android and iOS platforms.

“Our solutions are already operational in key urban centres, and we are scaling rapidly to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, ensuring that technological advancements benefit every segment of society. The recently raised `10 crores in funding will be channelled toward enhancing our tech stack and expanding our geographical footprint. Initiatives like dynamic pricing, UPI-integrated payment systems, and sustainability-focused designs are on the roadmap to further enrich user experience.”

What distinguishes ParkMate is its comprehensive approach to smart parking. “We don’t just provide parking spaces; we build an ecosystem that seamlessly integrates with the user’s daily routine. Features like hyper-local valet services, cashless payments, paperless parking and predictive analytics position ParkMate as a pioneer in this space. Additionally, our partnerships with urban development bodies and private developers allow us to ensure parking solutions are tailored to local needs.”

At ParkMate, parking is viewed as the gateway to a smarter urban landscape. The company’s long-term vision includes integrating with public transportation networks & smart cities, premium valet parking services for everyone, providing enabling efficient EV charging infrastructure, and contributing to policy frameworks that promote sustainable urban mobility. The services are currently available in New Delhi and Lucknow and will soon be available in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.