Mumbai: BMC collects Rs 1.5 lakh fine on Day 2 of new parking policy

Following its new rule to penalise vehicles parked in no-parking zones, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) levied penalty on 80 vehicles owners and collected a total of Rs 1. 50 lakh on Monday. On Sunday, it fined 56 vehicle owners and collected around Rs 1.80 lakh.

The rule to penalise people parking their vehicles in unauthorised parking zones was brought into effect from July 7. The penalty is applicable on all vehicles parked in a 500-metre radius of the 27 authorised public parking lots and 20 designated BEST depots in Mumbai.

The 27 authorised spots to park vehicles include areas like Altamount Road, Malabar Hill, Worli, Lower Patel, Kanjurmarg, Mulund, Borivali, Santacruz where public parking lots (PPL) have been started by the BMC in private buildings. Of the 27, 10 are free of charge.

Speaking to India Today, additional commissioner of BMC, Vijayawada Singhal said, "A circular to levy penalties on vehicles parked in no parking zones was issued in 2017 under the Municipal Corporation Act. It is under discretion of the commissioner to levy penalties on those flouting rules and parking their vehicles in no parking zones."

"We have public parking lots at 26 such locations and we saw that not even 15 per cent of the space is being utilised. People would park their vehicles on roads causing congestion. The move will help decongest roads and further utilise the public infrastructure which is in place," he added.

It is for the first time in the country that such a hefty fine is being levied for parking vehicles in no-parking zones.

The penalty charges range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,300 for two-wheelers and Rs 15,000 to Rs 23,250 for heavy vehicles.

New penalty fee per violation stands in the range of Rs 11,000 to Rs 17,600 for medium vehicles, Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,100 for light motor vehicles, and between Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,200 for all types of three-wheelers. Offenders will also have to pay the extra fine on late payment.