Maharashtra Plans Parking Space Requirement for New Car Buyers

Mumbai: Maharashtra may soon require car buyers to prove they have a designated parking space before registering new vehicles. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced this proposed change on Monday following a high-level meeting aimed at finalizing the state’s strategy for more effective urban space management in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The initiative comes as part of a comprehensive parking policy designed to address growing parking shortages and traffic congestion throughout the region.

“We are looking to construct parking spaces. Development rules should be followed, and developers must provide parking with flats. We will not register new vehicles if the buyer doesn’t have a certificate of parking space allotment from the concerned civic body,” Sarnaik stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to responsible urban development.

Expanding Urban Parking Solutions

Highlighting the severe parking shortage across the MMR, Sarnaik revealed that the Urban Development Department is developing a proposal to allow construction of parking facilities beneath designated recreational grounds. This approach aims to create additional parking capacity without compromising the city’s green spaces.

The minister also mentioned that the state is considering pod taxi networks in Mira-Bhayandar and the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to enhance last-mile connectivity with the metro system.

Implementation Strategy

According to The Indian Express, the transport department will conduct surveys to identify and catalog available parking spaces, assigning unique identifiers to each location. When registering a new vehicle, buyers will need to link their registration to an approved parking space.

This system is designed to ensure that vehicle numbers in any given area do not exceed available parking infrastructure, thereby reducing illegal street parking and traffic congestion.

Similar Approaches Nationwide

Chennai has already introduced a parking policy recommending mandatory proof of parking for new vehicle registrations. This comprehensive plan includes a parking management unit, designated zones, and variable fees, all aimed at promoting responsible car ownership and encouraging public transport use.

Bengaluru and Delhi have also considered similar measures in recent years, reflecting growing national awareness of parking-related urban challenges. However, as PTI reported, experts caution that implementation will require significant coordination between civic bodies, transport departments, and urban planners. They also highlight potential issues such as fraudulent documentation and challenges in unplanned urban areas and unauthorized colonies.

International Precedents

Several countries already implement parking verification requirements:

• Japan: Requires car buyers to obtain a ‘Parking Space Certificate’ (Shako Shomei Sho) from local police before registration, particularly in cities like Tokyo.
  
• Vietnam: Experimented with proof-of-parking but discontinued it due to corruption concerns, later introducing a smart parking system.
  
• China: Beijing has announced plans requiring residents to demonstrate access to parking before purchasing cars.
  
• Singapore: Implements strict vehicle ownership controls including high registration fees and a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system, with stringent parking requirements for new developments.