The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has launched a special initiative under the 'Comprehensive Policy 2026 to Transform Traffic, Parking, Encroachment, Road Safety and Cattle Management Across the City' to streamline traffic and reduce unauthorized roadside parking. Recognizing the crucial role of commercial establishments in addressing the city's traffic issues, the AMC has devised measures to incentivize these units.
Incentive for Providing Free Parking
Under this initiative, commercial units that make their parking spaces available to citizens free of charge will receive a property tax exemption equivalent to the specific area designated for parking. This move aims to reduce the parking load on roads and ease traffic congestion. The AMC has issued a circular containing instructions about this initiative.
Eligible Establishments
The benefits of this scheme apply to shopping malls, theatres, video parlours, miniplexes, multiplexes, hotels, party plots, community halls, gymnasiums, hospitals, social organizations, and educational institutions. Additionally, all non-residential units located on national highways, ring roads, and state highways will also benefit.
Conditions for Tax Exemption
To avail themselves of this tax exemption, commercial units must not levy any type of parking fee for their parking facilities. They must fill in the required details and provide consent to open their parking spaces to citizens via the 'Parking Availability and Sharing Consent Form' available on the corporation's official website. The total parking area must be specified in the form according to Equivalent Car Space (ECS), where 1 ECS = 2.5 × 5.5 = 13.75 sq m.
A person must be appointed to manage the parking system, who will be required to log parked vehicles in the AMC's official AmadaPark application so that motorists can receive real-time information on parking availability. Directional signage and parking bays must also be compulsorily installed.
Disqualification and Compliance
The AMC has clarified that if any commercial unit charges a fee for parking, does not give consent to make the parking spaces available to citizens, or fails to use the AmadaPark application, it will not be eligible for the property tax exemption. Commercial units that do not wish to avail of the tax exemption must apply through the Self-Assessment Module on AMC's official website within 60 days to ensure that property tax is assessed at the prescribed rate.
