Paid parking banned at over 70 malls, hospitals in South Delhi

Malls and hospitals take benefit of Floor Area Ratio relaxation in the name of free parking which they do not provide

Paid parking at around 75 malls and hospitals falling in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation area has been banned following growing complaints of high fees being charged for use of these facilities.

The decision to ban paid parking was taken today at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the civic body.

"The decision was taken in view of the complaints that private parking facilities at malls and hospitals charge high fees, in the range of Rs 50-100, for parking of vehicles," said Radhe Shyam Sharma, Chairman of SDMC's Standing Committee.

Private parking operators at the hospitals and malls in the municipal area will now have to allow free parking or take prior permission of SDMC for charging a fee, he said.

There are 39 malls and 35 hospitals in the SDMC area that provide private parking facilities, a senior municipal officer said.

The malls and hospitals normally take the benefit of FAR (Floor Area Ratio) relaxation in the name of free parking facilities which, however, they do not usually provide to the visitors, he said.

The decision was backed by the MCD Act, which necessitates prior permission of the civic body for carrying out any commercial activity under its jurisdiction, the officer added.

Sharma said that the issue was discussed at previous meetings of the Standing Committee and a committee of officials was formed to look into the matter.

SDMC will soon issue a circular for the implementation of the Standing Committee decision, he added.