MCG promotes free parking

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has started displaying boards to make residents aware of the rule of free parking in the basements of over 45 malls in Sohna Road and MG Road.

Despite a month after the announcement by the civic body, there has not been much improvement in these busy areas. Most vehicles continue to be parked outside malls in large numbers, causing heavy traffic jams during peak traffic hours.

The plan to provide free parking was taken after MCG waived off property taxes for the basements and ground floors of the commercial establishments in March this year.

Popular shopping malls that will provide free parking include City Court, JMD Empire Square, Grand Mall, MGF Mall in MG Road and JMD Galleria, Ninex ITech and ILD Trade Centre in Sohna Road.

Taking cognisance of the shortage of parking spaces and vehicles being wrongly parked, officials at MCG stated that the move to provide free parking will help reduced traffic jams to a great extent during rush hour. Wrongly parked vehicles are among the reasons that cause traffic blockade.

To make sure that shopping establishments provide free parking and do not charge its customers, officials from Gurugram Police will also be a part of the entire process.

A large number of complaints, however, have been reported by residents that most malls continue to charge them a hefty parking fee, thus causing them to park vehicles on the roads.

MCG has warned the management of malls that if they charge customers even after displaying free parking boards, it will start levying property tax from the basement that was waived off.