Chennai Unveils New Parking Policy: Workplaces, Schools, and Commuters to See Major Changes

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:

If your workplace has over 100 employees, get ready for significant changes. Under the new parking policy introduced by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), employers must implement a robust travel demand management plan—essentially limiting individual car usage for commuting.

Instead, companies will be encouraged to promote shared rides, public transportation, walking, and cycling. Employers will need to track employees’ residential locations, commuting methods, vehicle usage, and travel timings. This data will help in organizing better shuttle services to metro stations, suburban trains, and bus stops. The policy, accessed by TNIE, also proposes incentives and rewards for those opting for public transport or cycling.

Schools are also affected by this policy. They must stagger class timings to reduce congestion during peak hours. Additionally, schools will need to designate specific areas for pickups, drop-offs, and bus parking to eliminate chaotic traffic outside school gates.

The new policy suggests introducing a 'proof of parking' requirement to validate the availability of at least one off-street parking space for future vehicle registrations as a long-term measure.

With nearly 9.2 million vehicles competing for space, on-street parking has become chaotic. CUMTA aims to regulate parking as an urban mobility measure, says CUMTA special officer I Jayakumar. Inspired by cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Pune, Chennai will implement dynamic parking fees based on location, time, and duration.

According to the policy, large commercial vehicles will only be permitted on the roads during off-peak hours unless they are transporting essential goods like water or medicine. Loading and unloading zones will be strictly off-road. To support these regulations, smart technology will be introduced to enforce parking rules, manage congestion, and enhance urban livability.

Furthermore, large commercial buildings (over 10,000 square meters) must comply with Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) regulations, ensuring parking provisions are planned before construction begins.

Jayakumar states that parking fees will be determined based on vehicle size, parking duration, and demand. Urban local bodies will set parking fees according to recommendations from area-level parking management plans. On-street parking rates will be structured to maintain at least 15% vacancy at all times.

Three types of street parking zones will be identified: high-demand, medium-demand, and low-demand block faces. Based on these categories, four pricing tiers—high, medium, low, and free—will be implemented. A single street may feature a mix of pricing tiers. For instance, on a 2km stretch, some sections may have high parking fees while others remain free, depending on demand.

Under the new policy, on-street parking fees will be higher than off-street parking to encourage long-term parking in designated areas. The payment system will shift from a postpaid to a prepaid model, prompting users to plan their parking in advance and reducing prolonged street parking. Additionally, public off-street parking and nearby on-street parking (within 500 meters) will be integrated and managed by a single entity.

Factfile:

• Centralized Parking System: CUMTA will develop a digital platform to manage parking data.

• Parking App & Website: A portal will provide real-time updates on slot availability and fees.

• Revenue Management: All parking revenue will be directed to the Urban Transport Fund.

• Private Sector Incentives: The government will lease land at nominal rates for off-street parking.

• Development Benefits: Developers creating public parking spaces will receive Transferable Development Rights.