Delhi govt rolls back hike in one-time parking charges
NEW DELHI: A massive increase in one-time parking charges cleared by the Delhi Transport Department, that would have seen car ownership costs in the capital shoot up by up to Rs 75,000, has been scrapped for now. The order issued by outgoing Transport Commissioner Varsha Joshi on Friday had said that the new parking charges would be applicable from January 1, 2019.
"Transport dept has been directed to withdraw the order dated 21.12.2018 reg increase in parking charges in South/East/North Delhi Municipal Corporations. Owners of Commercial or Non-commercial vehicles need not deposit the enhanced parking fee till the matter has been examined afresh," Delhi Transport minister Kailash Gahlot tweeted.
Earlier, the charges were decided to cost between Rs 6,000 and Rs 75,000 per car. The Delhi Transport Department, which collects the parking charges on behalf of the MCDs, had approved the recommendation for the hike by three municipal corporations of the city.
The order, issued by outgoing transport commissioner Varsha Joshi on Friday, angered bus and taxi operators as the annual parking fee for different categories of commercial vehicles will rise from the existing Rs 2,500-Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000-Rs 25,000.
According to the order, based on the cost of a vehicle, the one-time parking charge for private cars and SUVs will range between Rs 6,000 and Rs 75,000 –18 times the existing rate of Rs 4,000.
The process of charging the money during vehicle registration is prescribed through notification of Union Urban Affairs Ministry, not by the transport department, Joshi, who has taken charge as North Delhi Municipal Corporation's commissioner, said.
The parking charges mechanism will be replaced by spot parking fees after new parking regulations are notified by the Delhi government, she said. "Till then this mechanism will be applicable. So, we followed an urban affairs ministry notification and issued these orders," she added.
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, however, denied having any information about the hike. "I am not aware of any such decision," he said.
