No Parking, No Car: Chennai’s New Rule Requires Proof Of Parking Space For Vehicle Registration

Chennai is introducing a new parking policy aimed at curbing the growing issue of vehicle congestion and promoting better parking practices. The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has proposed that residents provide proof of parking space at their homes or in private areas before registering a new vehicle. This measure is intended to discourage excessive private vehicle usage and encourage the use of public transport.

Chennai's New Policy to Curb Road Clutter

The policy, which was approved by the state housing and urban development department, comes after delays in its release, despite assurances to the Madras High Court last year. Under the new rules, vehicle buyers must demonstrate they have at least one off-street parking space to register their car. CUMTA member-secretary I Jeyakumar highlighted that this approach is unique in India and could help address the problem of multiple cars being parked on roads, which negatively impacts neighborhood livability, according to a report in The Times of India.

To tackle the issue of existing vehicles without dedicated parking, CUMTA plans to introduce residential parking permits. These permits will be issued through a lottery auction system for areas with broad roads and continuous housing plots. Homes with existing parking facilities will not be eligible. The permits will be available on a monthly or annual basis, allowing vehicle owners to lease parking slots for the designated period.

Additionally, CUMTA has recommended amendments to the Tamil Nadu Combined Development Building Rules, 2019, to encourage shared parking facilities in private buildings, such as gated communities and malls. These facilities would be available for public use, either as multi-level parking (MLP) or surface-level parking, with weekly or monthly charges. The policy also calls for the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, targeting 20% of parking capacity in both public and private off-street parking areas, the report added.

Furthermore, the government has been advised to impose a parking-development fee on private off-street parking facilities that do not offer shared public parking. The revenue generated from this fee would be reinvested in public transport, walking, and cycling infrastructure.

With Chennai currently facing a severe shortage of public parking spaces-only 14,000 slots against a demand of 30 lakh-the policy is seen as a critical step to manage the city's 92 lakh registered vehicles and reduce traffic congestion. Experts believe these measures are essential for improving urban mobility and livability in the city.