Bengaluru Proposes Mandatory Paid Parking and Residential Fees

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the Urban Development Department issued a draft notification on August 11 proposing a mandatory paid parking system across Bengaluru. The plan aims to regulate haphazard parking by categorizing roads into three tiers based on commercial activity, with hourly on-street fees ranging from ₹20 to ₹80. To discourage long-term occupancy, the policy introduces exponential charges for vehicles parked over two hours and offers property tax rebates to landowners who convert vacant sites into parking areas.

The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition leader R. Ashoka, who condemned the plan as parking loot. The opposition specifically targeted the proposed annual permits for residential roadside parking, which could cost SUV owners up to ₹25,000 per year. Critics argue the government lacks the moral authority to impose these fees while the city continues to struggle with waterlogging and potholes.

GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao clarified that the notification is currently a draft seeking public input. Residents have 30 days from the August 11 announcement to submit objections before the rules are finalized. While the opposition has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the policy, the state government has not yet issued an official clarification regarding the residential fees.