Bengaluru parking policy sent for review after 800 objections

The Greater Bengaluru Authority has sent its draft Parking Rules for further review after receiving more than 800 objections, government sources said. GBA Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao said the policy would be scrutinised again and that the objections and suggestions had been forwarded to a legal research firm for academic review.

The main objections concern paid parking and permit charges. The proposed annual permits range from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000. Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy has also written to the Chief Minister seeking a comprehensive review of the charges.

Civic groups said the draft appeared more focused on revenue collection and oriented towards upper-middle-class residents than on balancing traffic management, parking discipline and income generation. They nevertheless supported proposals to expand parking infrastructure and impose restrictions. Some groups proposed a Parking Advisory Committee including civic organisations, resident associations and trade bodies.

Trade activist Sajjan Raj Mehta said the central objective should be mobility management and public welfare rather than monetising public road space. Other concerns include giving private operators responsibility for residential parking, which groups said could expose residents to harassment without stronger safeguards. Activists also warned that allocating road space for parking could create congestion, particularly in smaller neighbourhoods.

The draft includes restrictions on parking at bus bays, changes to autorickshaw stands, off-street parking and digital records of parking spaces. Officials said the review would consider the objections before the policy proceeds.