In a significant step to address the unrelenting traffic congestion and parking shortage in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has announced that new vehicles will not be registered unless the buyer provides official proof of a dedicated parking space. This directive was unveiled following a high-level meeting on the state’s revised parking policy. The move is aimed squarely at controlling the vehicle population in cities like Mumbai, where a lack of infrastructure has led to overflowing roads, haphazard parking, and daily gridlocks. By tying car ownership to mandatory parking certification, the government hopes to instil responsibility among buyers and push urban planners to incorporate better infrastructure.

Developers Now Accountable for Parking Provisions

Transport Minister Sarnaik emphasized the need for accountability not only from vehicle buyers but also from real estate developers. He stated that builders must provide adequate parking facilities with every new residential flat. As the demand for homes in Mumbai’s dense urban environment grows, the responsibility to prevent spillover onto public roads is now being placed on those shaping the skyline. This policy could influence a shift in urban planning strategies, forcing developers to allocate more space to structured parking rather than squeezing in additional flats. It’s a bold move that underscores the importance of preemptive planning over reactive solutions.

Civic Bodies to Issue Mandatory Parking Certificates

The new policy mandates that a certificate from the local civic body confirming an allotted parking space must accompany every vehicle registration request. This introduces a layer of administrative verification, ensuring that parking claims are authentic and regulated. The policy places significant pressure on municipal authorities to accurately manage and record parking spaces, potentially leading to the digitisation and streamlining of parking records in the future. Buyers must now think twice before purchasing a vehicle without evaluating their residential or commercial parking capacity. It not only discourages impulsive vehicle ownership but also promotes more organized urban living.

Parking Plazas Under Recreational Grounds in the Pipeline

Recognizing the acute shortage of land, the state government is also planning innovative solutions to build parking infrastructure. Minister Sarnaik revealed that the Urban Development department is working on proposals to allow the construction of underground parking plazas beneath designated recreational grounds. This dual-purpose land use could serve as a long-term fix to the space crunch without sacrificing green zones. If implemented successfully, it can act as a model for other metros grappling with similar urban planning challenges. This approach may help create thousands of parking slots in high-demand areas without compromising public leisure spaces.

Future Mobility: Pod Taxis for Urban Transport

Apart from parking solutions, Maharashtra is also exploring futuristic modes of urban mobility. Sarnaik mentioned that a pod taxi project presentation was recently shown to him, and a visit to Vadodara—home to the world’s first commercially ready suspended pod-car system—has inspired similar visions for Maharashtra. The government is eyeing locations like Mira-Bhayandar and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) for implementing pod-based transport to improve last-mile connectivity to metro stations. This blend of policy enforcement and smart urban transport planning signals a larger shift toward structured, sustainable, and tech-driven mobility solutions that can ease urban strain and elevate daily commute experiences.

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Source : indiatoday.in