Chandigarh's Smart Parking System Remains a Decade-Long Unfulfilled Promise
Nearly a decade after the initial planning for a smart parking system in Chandigarh, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has failed to modernize the city's parking facilities. Despite taking direct control of parking lot management three years ago following the termination of private contractor arrangements, the civic body has not enforced the most basic improvements it once mandated for those contractors.
Residents Face Persistent Inconvenience and Chaos
Residents parking in MC-managed lots continue to encounter significant inconveniences and chaotic conditions. Long queues, poor guidance systems, and outdated parking practices persist across the city. The MC's own request for proposals and contract terms included clear guidelines designed to enhance user experience, but these remain largely unimplemented.
One of the most glaring failures involves the collection of parking fees. The MC specifically prescribed collecting fees only at exit points to prevent unnecessary congestion at entry areas and to avoid charging drivers who ultimately find no available parking spaces. However, fees continue to be collected at entry points, leading to serpentine queues that spill onto approach and slip roads, creating traffic hazards and frustration.
Unfulfilled Prescriptions and Basic Measures
Several other prescribed measures remain unimplemented under direct MC management:
- Parking attendants assisting motorists in locating available spaces
- Proper guidance for optimal parking to maximize space utilization
- Ensuring smooth internal traffic flow to avoid congestion
- Attendants wearing clean uniforms with visible name tags
- Displaying clear messages when no parking slots are available
- Installing CCTV surveillance at entry and exit points to detect encroachments or illegal parking
- Enabling quick incident response systems
Political Criticism and Accountability Demands
Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi sharply criticized the civic body, calling it an "utter failure" that highlights incompetence. "The MC had the opportunity to set an example of efficient parking management and improve convenience for residents. Even as it earns profits from the lots, it provides no basic facilities — no boom barriers, no attendant assistance for parking, no real-time information on available spaces. Even the simplest rule of charging at the exit isn't followed," he stated.
AAP councillor Yogesh Dhingra highlighted repeated parking fee hikes — from Rs 10 to Rs 12, and now to Rs 14 — that promised better conditions that never materialized. "How much does it cost to instruct attendants to collect fees at the exit? With revenue from these hikes, couldn't the MC install CCTV cameras for better management and security? It could have led by example for future private operators, but it failed completely," he lamented.
Broader Delays in Smart Parking Initiatives
The ongoing issues underscore broader delays in the city's long-promised smart parking initiatives. Elements such as AI-based systems, FASTag integration, and real-time availability displays remain stalled or scaled back despite years of planning and public expectations. As parking woes persist amid rising vehicle numbers, residents continue to demand accountability and tangible upgrades from the civic body that directly profits from their daily parking struggles.
MC Response and Future Plans
MC commissioner Pradeep Kumar responded to the criticism by stating, "We introduced the MC one-pass, which will resolve exit and entry issues. Other improvements are also being worked out." Meanwhile, the MC has initiated the process to rope in private contractors to run the parking lots once again, raising questions about whether this will lead to genuine improvements or simply continue the cycle of unfulfilled promises.
The situation highlights a significant gap between municipal planning and implementation, with residents bearing the brunt of inefficient parking management while the city's smart parking vision remains unrealized after nearly ten years of discussion and planning.
