Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
In a bid to modernize the city’s parking infrastructure, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is set to launch its Smart Parking initiative with a pilot project in Sector-17. The proposal to develop all parking lots in the commercial hub under a smart parking solution is likely to be placed before the Municipal Corporation House in its upcoming meeting.
Under the proposed model, parking operations may be handed over to a private agency. If the pilot project proves successful, similar smart parking systems will be introduced in other parts of the city, including Sector-34, in a phased manner.
The smart parking system is expected to feature CCTV surveillance, improved monitoring of parking staff, mobile app-based parking slot reservations, and real-time information on parking space availability. The initiative aims to enhance convenience for motorists while improving transparency and efficiency in parking management.
The project also proposes a time-based parking fee structure. However, with municipal elections approaching, political parties are unlikely to support any proposal involving higher parking charges or increased fees based on parking duration.
Chandigarh currently has around 88 paid parking lots, all of which are managed directly by the Municipal Corporation. Recent inspections by officials revealed several shortcomings in the existing system, including irregular issuance of parking slips, inadequate vehicle monitoring, and lapses in fee collection.
Officials believe these deficiencies have increased operational costs while limiting revenue generation for the civic body. The smart parking project is expected to address these issues and improve overall parking management across the city.
