CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation’s parking management policy will soon be implemented. The draft was submitted to the civic body last month by the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). The GCC has sent it back suggesting some changes.
“We await ITDP’s response to our suggestions, after which we will implement it,” deputy commissioner, works department, M S Prasanth told TOI.
The goals of the World Bank funded Chennai parking policy, ITDP’s Ashwathi Dilip said, include reducing demand for parking through management and pricing, reclaiming on-street parking spaces for sustainable transport modes, encouraging shift to public transport, walking, and cycling. By this, it hopes to minimise traffic congestion, air pollution and accidents, and improve economic vitality.
Aiming for a professionally operated system, the civic body. Based on demand, more infrastructure such as multilevel car parks would be planned. The one at T Nagar is yet to take off as people haven't been using it to capacity. In a commercial area, shop owners and employees use most of the available parking space on the streets for the whole day. In residential areas, these spaces are used to park at nights. “This street infrastructure cannot be used to build pedestrian footpaths and other infrastructure. The policy will address these issues,” said an official.
