With the Tamil Nadu Government recently approving a parking policy, priority areas now include area-level parking management and a centralised Parking Management Unit (PMU) for the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA).
A Government Order to the effect was issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, was approved on January 25, according to a press release.
Click here to access the full document of CUMTA Parking Policy
The plan titled ‘Parking Policy for CMA’, was developed by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) with technical support from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) India, for the expanded 5,904 sq. km CMA – Chennai, Tambaram, Avadi, Kancheepuram, 12 municipalities, 13 town panchayats, 22 panchayat unions, and one special grade town panchayat, the release stated.
According to CUMTA, the policy will be pushing for public transport modes, and managing parking through area-level plans, demand-based pricing, formulate pricing strategies, issue requests for proposals for service providers, and advanced technology. The area-level plans and demand pricing will be tackled on a case to case basis, similar to surge pricing, said ITDP experts. This is so that people opt for buses or Chennai Metro Rail for travelling rather than private vehicles to reduce traffic and uneven parking.
According to CUMTA, parking fee will be based on factors such as vehicle size, parking duration, parking demand in the respective block faces, the time of the day (peak/non-peak hours), the day of the week and the value of the area, etc. Accordingly, the urban local bodies will fix the parking fee based on the recommendations in the ‘Area Level Parking Management Plan’ prepared. The parking fee fixed may be reviewed periodically based on local conditions.
The plan emphasised for organised urban freight management by relocating truck terminals and restricting on-street freight parking. Job centers with over 100 employees must promote public transit via shuttles and incentives. Schools should stagger timings and ensure pick-up/drop-off zones. Commercial hubs require integrated traffic management. Off-street parking must support EV charging infrastructure.
A Parking Management Unit (PMU) under CUMTA will oversee implementation, including fee collection, enforcement, and the development of multi-level car parks.
The release also stated that revenue from parking fees will be reinvested in local infrastructure improvements, such as footpaths and cycling tracks. According to the press release, this initiative aims to reduce on-street haphazard parking and free pavements for pedestrians.
The documents are available on CUMTA’s official website for public consultation.
Published – March 13, 2025 12:57 am IST