The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has implemented a stringent zero-tolerance policy against illegal parking on 11 major roads in the city. Under this initiative, penalties can reach up to Rs 3,000, targeting vehicles parked haphazardly on busy corridors. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance traffic flow, road safety, and public discipline.
Comprehensive Policy for Traffic and Road Safety
The policy, officially titled the 'Comprehensive Policy to Address Issues of Traffic, Road Safety, Encroachment and Cattle Menace for Ahmedabad City', aims to ease congestion and ensure smoother movement on key thoroughfares. Among the 11 identified roads, 10 are located in the western part of Ahmedabad, including SG Highway, CG Road, and Judges Bungalow Road, while one road is in the eastern zone. Officials noted that these corridors experience heavy traffic volumes and frequent bottlenecks due to indiscriminate parking and roadside encroachments.
Penalties for Violators
Under the new framework, penalties for illegal parking on zero-tolerance roads have been significantly increased. Two-wheeler owners may face fines of Rs 1,500 during peak hours and Rs 1,000 during non-peak hours. For four-wheelers, the proposed fines are Rs 3,000 during peak hours and Rs 2,000 during off-peak hours. The AMC has also proposed differential on-street parking charges, ranging from Rs 30 to Rs 60 for two-wheelers and Rs 50 to Rs 100 for four-wheelers, depending on demand and location.
Enforcement and Compliance
To ensure compliance, estate department teams will be deployed to keep the roads free from encroachments. Repeated violations will invite stricter action. Motorists will be directed to designated on-street parking facilities and multi-level parking complexes, rather than parking on road shoulders. Higher fees will apply for on-street parking to encourage use of off-street options.
Parking-Sharing Model
AMC officials stated that commercial buildings and private complexes along these roads will be encouraged to open their parking facilities to the public under a parking-sharing model. Property tax incentives are proposed to promote participation. Surveys of commercial complexes on the identified roads have already been completed.
Parking Plans and Future Steps
The civic body has prepared parking plans for three western city zones and is developing a pilot parking management plan for Sindhu Bhavan Road. While Rajpath Rangoli Road and Bopal-Ambli Road were initially considered for inclusion in the zero-tolerance list, they were later excluded. Ahmedabad's parking policy received state government approval in October 2021, followed by parking bylaws in 2023. Two agencies are currently assessing parking demand, existing capacity, unauthorized parking patterns, and future requirements. The exercise will also identify additional on-street parking spaces, declare no-parking stretches, and determine area-specific parking fees based on vehicle type and usage patterns.
