Chandigarh: Four months on, parking rates hiked again

From April 1, four-wheeler and two-wheeler owners have to shell out double of what they were paying now.

chandigarh, parking rates, parking fees hike, chandigarh parking rate revised, chandigarh municipal crop, indian express

At a parking lot in Sector 17, Chandigarh. (Express Archives)

Barely four months after rates were hiked, city residents will have to shell out more for parking again come Sunday. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on Friday gave the go-ahead to the company, managing the parking lots, to hike the rates from Sunday. From April 1, four-wheeler and two-wheeler owners have to shell out double of what they were paying now.

According to the new rates, for each entry, a car owner or a three-wheeler owner will have to pay Rs 20 for the first four hours. The rates would be doubled every two hours as the commuter would have to pay Rs 40 up to six hours, Rs 60 up to eight hours and Rs 80 up to 10 hours. A day’s pass would be Rs 50.

At present, a car owner or a three-wheeler owner pays Rs 10 and a two-wheeler owner Rs 5 for up to four hours and double the amount every two hours. From April 1, however, a two-wheeler owner will have to shell out Rs 10 for the first four hours, Rs 20 for up to six hours, Rs 30 for up to eight hours and Rs 40 up to 10 hours. And, a day’s pass would be Rs 25 for them.

The communication sent to the firm by the MC stated, “You are hereby authorised to hike the parking rates with effect from April 1, as per the tender document.”

A senior MC official, confirmed the communication sent to the company. “Not only have they paid the pending dues but all the parking lots are smart as per the condition. We are legally bound to allow the company to hike the rates as mentioned in the contract,” he said.

Sunil Bidlani, the company representative, said they received the communique on Friday evening and would be implementing the new rates as per MC’s permission.

At parking lots outside Elante Mall, Fun Republic and Piccadily cinema, the rates would be Rs 40 for the first four hours and then double every two hours. Up to six hours, the rates would be Rs 80 and up to eight hours Rs 120,” said Bidlani.

Story continues below this ad

A mini bus owner will have to pay Rs 40 for the first four hours and Rs 160 up to eight hours while a tourist bus owner will have to pay Rs 100 for the first four hours and Rs 200 for up to six hours. For up to 10 hours, he will have to pay Rs 400.

Mayor Davesh Moudgil had emphasised that the rates would not be hiked while MC Commissioner Jitender Yadav said that they were legally bound to do so. Moudgil, however, refused to comment on the new development.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram