The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has taken a decisive step towards modernising parking in the heart of the capital. In a move aimed at providing advanced, technology-driven, and user-friendly services to commuters, the civic body has revised the operational framework for all 155 parking sites under its jurisdiction in Lutyens' Delhi. This revision is the foundational step for implementing a long-pending intelligent parking system.
A New Zonal Framework for Efficient Management
NDMC Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal outlined the new structure, explaining that the parking lots have been strategically divided into three distinct zones. The first zone encompasses Connaught Place, the city's central commercial hub. The second zone is Kartavya Path, the ceremonial boulevard, and the third covers areas north of Kartavya Path, including prominent localities like Sarojini Nagar, Bhikaji Cama Place, and their adjoining areas.
"We earlier had 99 parking sites in and around Connaught Place and 38 in other parts of Lutyens' Delhi," Chahal stated. "In recent years, 18 more sites were added or transferred to NDMC, taking the total number to 155. We are targeting making this project operational in the coming financial year to ensure a smooth parking experience for visitors and generate revenue as well," he added.
From Stopgap to High-Tech: Addressing Past Failures
The push for an intelligent system comes after several years of challenges. Officials noted that multiple attempts to appoint an expert agency in the past had failed. The situation was exacerbated as several parking sites remained without private contractors for nearly five years after earlier contracts ended. A significant event occurred in August last year when contracts for 99 parking lots expired, leaving them unmanaged.
Since then, NDMC has been relying on a makeshift arrangement, deploying over 400 staff members from various departments to manage 123 sites temporarily. The remaining sites are operated by institutions, resident welfare associations (RWAs), or market associations. This interim solution led to multiple problems: inconvenience for visitors, inefficient use of parking space, and financial losses for the council. Commuters frequently faced difficulties in finding available slots and obtaining parking slips.
A previous tender attempt in February 2025 to engage a single agency for an integrated system at a cost of Rs 7 crore per month or 50% of the collection also fell through. Only two bidders participated, and both were later found ineligible, forcing NDMC to cancel the process.
The Road Ahead: Tenders, Technology, and Capacity
Learning from past setbacks, NDMC is now charting a fresh course. The council plans to invite new tenders in January with the goal of finalising the agency selection process by March 2025. The selected agency will have a comprehensive mandate, responsible for designing, developing, supplying, implementing, operating, and maintaining the entire intelligent parking system.
The scale of the project is substantial. Collectively, the 155 parking sites will provide space for 15,158 vehicles. This includes a capacity for 10,322 four-wheelers, 4,713 two-wheelers, and 123 buses. The implementation of a unified, tech-based system is expected to streamline operations, reduce chaos, improve revenue collection, and ultimately offer a seamless experience for the thousands of commuters and visitors who navigate Lutyens' Delhi daily.
