Pune's Pay-and-Park Initiative Faces Delays and Public Scrutiny
The Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) proposed pay-and-park scheme has hit a significant roadblock, remaining unimplemented nearly two months after its initial announcement. This delay has prompted the civic administration to consider retendering the project as early as next week, sparking a heated debate among residents and activists over its potential impact on the city's chronic parking and traffic issues.
Scheme Details and Proposed Implementation
The PMC had outlined plans to introduce the pay-and-park facility on six major roads across Pune, targeting high-traffic areas such as JM Road, FC Road, Vimannagar, Balewadi High Street, Bibvewadi, and Laxmi Road. These locations are renowned as popular shopping hubs, attracting large volumes of visitors daily, which exacerbates parking demands. Under the proposed scheme, parking charges were set at Rs 4 per hour for two-wheelers and Rs 20 per hour for four-wheelers. The initiative was designed to be implemented in collaboration with the city police, aiming to curb haphazard roadside parking and improve traffic flow.
Mixed Reactions from Residents and Activists
The proposal has elicited mixed reactions from the public. Supporters argue that regulated parking could alleviate traffic congestion and reduce illegal parking practices. However, critics, including citizen activists, contend that the PMC has failed to address the root cause: a severe shortage of off-street parking infrastructure. Vivek Velankar of the Sajag Nagarik Manch emphasized that while the PMC identified public parking reservations in development plans, these have not been adequately utilized. "The administration should first create adequate parking infrastructure. Introducing pay-and-park on roads only promotes on-street parking, which is not a solution," he stated.
Commuters Voice Concerns Over Parking Chaos
Regular commuters have raised alarms about persistent issues such as illegal and wrong-side parking, which create nuisances, especially during peak hours and nighttime. Ameya Nipankar, a frequent visitor to Balewadi High Street, highlighted the ineffectiveness of previous pay-and-park efforts. "Wrong-side and haphazard parking creates trouble for commuters. The previous pay-and-park initiatives did not prove effective. The administration must find a better solution," he remarked. Shoppers on FC Road echoed these sentiments, noting that limited parking options often lead to double and illegal parking, further complicating traffic management.
Administrative Response and Future Plans
In response to the delays, civic officials have announced plans to revise and reissue tenders within a week. Dinkar Gojare, a senior PMC official and project coordinator, explained that changes to the tender terms and conditions are being made to attract more bidders and foster competition, potentially leading to a more effective system. Notably, there is no immediate plan to create additional parking spaces on the selected roads; instead, the focus remains on streamlining existing parking to ensure smoother traffic flow. This approach has drawn criticism from those advocating for a more comprehensive solution to Pune's parking woes.
