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CUMTA will also implement a residential parking permit system, allocated by lottery, to address off-street parking shortages for existing vehicles in designated areas with wide roads and continuous housing
Chennai currently faces a severe parking deficit, with only 14,000 public parking slots available against a demand of 3 million. (Representative/Shutterstock)
Car buyers in Chennai will soon need to prove they have a dedicated parking space before their vehicle can be registered, according to a new policy announced by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Authority (CUMTA).
This groundbreaking policy, a first in India, aims to combat traffic congestion by encouraging residents to explore public transport options and reduce reliance on private vehicles. The policy, approved by the Housing and Urban Development Department, comes after the Tamil Nadu government’s commitment to the Madras High Court in 2024.
Under the new regulations, individuals purchasing a car in Chennai must demonstrate access to at least one off-street parking space within their home or private property.
“People often own multiple cars but have limited parking space, forcing them to park on the road and impacting the entire neighbourhood,” explained CUMTA member-secretary I Jeyakumar.
To address the issue of existing vehicles lacking off-street parking, CUMTA plans to introduce a residential parking permit system. These permits, allocated via a lottery system, will be available for specific areas with wide roads and continuous housing. However, homes with existing parking provisions will not be eligible. Permit holders can lease dedicated parking slots on a monthly or annual basis.
The ambitious policy also encourages shared parking solutions. CUMTA has recommended amendments to the Tamil Nadu Combined Development Building Rules, 2019, to mandate shared parking in private buildings, gated communities, and malls. This move aims to increase public parking availability, with facilities offered for a weekly or monthly fee.
Recognising the growing popularity of electric vehicles, the new policy also advocates for the creation of charging infrastructure. It suggests amending development rules to ensure that 20% of parking capacity in both public and private off-street parking areas is equipped with electric vehicle chargers.
Furthermore, the policy proposes a parking-development fee, similar to the floor-space development fee, for private off-street parking facilities that do not offer public access. The revenue generated from this fee would be invested in improving public transport, walking paths, and cycling infrastructure.
Chennai currently faces a severe parking deficit, with only 14,000 public parking slots available against a demand of 3 million. With the number of vehicles in the city projected to reach 9.2 million by 2022, experts believe this new policy is crucial to alleviate the city’s traffic woes.
