Mumbai, Thane, Pune To Get Smart Parking: Government Plans Digital Booking System

The Maharashtra government believes that rented parking, also known as paid parking, could help ease congestion in the state's metropolitan areas, starting with Mumbai, Thane, and Pune.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the government is working on a Parking Policy for Maharashtra. He said that civic bodies in these cities would be instructed to map parking spaces and develop a software application to help motorists locate and rent parking slots, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the state transport department's headquarters in Worli, Fadnavis stressed the importance of mapping parking areas and creating an app before enforcing new parking regulations. "In Mumbai, there are many public parking spaces, some of which remain unused. In the future, if a motorist does not have a parking space, they can rent one using this app," he said.

The Parking Policy was first announced on December 30, 2024 as part of the government's 100-day transformation drive. In December 2024, the transport department proposed that motorists should provide proof of a 'certified parking area' when purchasing a vehicle. After the chief minister's announcement, transport authorities clarified that renting a parking spot via the proposed app would also be considered valid proof. However, these plans are still in the early stages.

Sources in the government said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is already working on an 'Automatic Parking Guidance and Management System' with digital payment facilities. This initiative aims to streamline on-street, off-street, and multi-level public parking. Over 3,000 parking locations have been identified in Mumbai, and the system will be digitised under a single nodal agency.

A senior government official explained that the system would provide real-time updates on available parking spaces, allowing motorists to pre-book slots. This would help reduce congestion, especially during peak hours, and eliminate the need for drivers to search for parking, saving both time and fuel costs.

State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik emphasised the urgency of the issue. "Motorists, especially in Mumbai and Thane, face serious parking problems. A proper Parking Policy is necessary, and with the state legislature session beginning tomorrow (March 3), we should discuss it further," he said.

He also mentioned that while drafting the concept plan, the transport department has studied parking policies in cities such as London, Tokyo, New York, Zurich, and Singapore. The Maharashtra government hopes that implementing a structured parking system will provide relief to motorists and improve urban mobility across the state.