With proposed 40% hike, Chandigarh’s smart parking plan to ‘outsmart’ residents

Earlier, Rs 14 was charged for the first four hours but now, that is the charge for the entire day now as the civic body doesn’t have much people to manage. With this, the first price slabs for the parking lots will see a 40 per cent rise. Civic officials are presently tight-lipped about the increased rates as they feel that there will be widespread opposition regarding the same in the city.

At present, parking lots are being run by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation as the term of both contractors who were managing the lots, ended. Parking lots of only busy sectors at the moment are being run by MCs outsourced staff till new tender is floated and the new firm starts managing the lots.

While both the Commissioner Anindita Mitra and the Mayor Anup Gupta refused to speak on the new parking rates, officials said that “with technology, rates would also be hiked.” “When people are ready to pay up to Rs 60 in malls, this rate would be far less from that. And when someone gives services, they do charge more,” said a source privy to the discussion on the parking rates.

Pre-booking of parking

spot while sitting at home before you start for your destination, FASTAG-based entry system these are the smart features planned for Chandigarh’s parking lots. Pre-booking for a time slot will be allowed using mobile application. A vehicle will be allowed to enter after approval from the on-field operator and QR code scanning.

As per plans, the fee will be calculated based on QR tiket and relevant amount can be paid in cash or via UPI, wallet etc. Exit can be made from the parking lot after payment. Also, the availability of space in parking lots will be displayed on the LED screen.

In a detailed analysis, it was found that making the parking lots “smart” was one of the key requirements and in that direction, Fastag-based system is being introduced.

The Fastag will be read at the entry and if valid, the vehicle will be allowed to enter. At the same time, availability of parking space in the lot will also be available and displayed on the LED screen then. At the time of exit, Fastag will again be read and a relevant amount will be deducted. The amount deduction message will be sent to the main server. In case of non-Fastag transactions, it was found that for invalid or no Fastag, a QR code ticket from ticket dispenser will be taken by the person entering the parking lot. Fee will be calculated on the basis of the QR ticket and relevant amount can be paid in cash and via UPI, wallet etc. The car driver can then exit from the parking lot after making the payment. This new smart parking management system will not just have a user engagement app but also RFID Fastags with automatic number plate recognition feature. There will be an automated ID and billing on the same.

Then there will be an enforcement app and a parking management app as well which will help in easy and transparent enforcement of parking rules and give a real-time data access too. The data analytics will not just give estimated revenue and usage but also help in taking smart decisions.
Also, Fastag-based monthly pass and online recharge facility will be available.

GPS-based attendance

Some features of the smart parking management system will include GPS-based attendance, zoning of the parking lots, ensured count of vehicles etc. Also, there will be a separate dashboard for citizen grievances. Valet parking feature will be there apart from facility of discounted parking coupons by the firm to their consumers.

Services from ICCC

The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) of the smart city will also be assisting and providing services with regard to smart parking management. Sources said that it was being chalked out if there can be a call centre as a service for citizen grievances where feedback will also be taken apart from redressal of the citizen issues with regard to parking.

Also, features like providing cybersecurity services for parking application, providing internet subnet network, providing IT infra for hosting the parking application — all these will be made available as the back-end support. Dedicated seats in the ICCC in Sector 17 will also be given to the departmental representative.

Earlier in 2016-17, the BJP-led Municipal Corporation had promised smart parking for the residents and a Mumbai-based firm had started managing the parking lots. However, it failed to make the parking lots smart and later the firm left the operations mid way.