The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has implemented a significant hike in parking fees across the city, effectively doubling charges at its underground facilities and other civic parking lots. This move coincides with the handover of parking operations to a private agency, a decision officials say aims to regulate traffic flow and increase municipal revenue.
Revised Fee Structure: From 4-Hour to 2-Hour Slabs
The core change lies in the billing structure. Parking fees have shifted from a 4-hour slab system to a 2-hour slab system, leading to substantially higher costs for users. For underground parking facilities previously managed by the LMC, the new rates are as follows:
For two-wheelers, the charge for the first two hours is now Rs 15, compared to the old rate of Rs 10 for four hours. Each additional hour will cost Rs 7. This means parking for four hours will now cost Rs 29, a near-tripling of the earlier fee.
For four-wheelers, the first two hours will cost Rs 30, up from Rs 25 for four hours. Each extra hour is priced at Rs 15, making a four-hour stay Rs 60. Daily parking for a 24-hour period has been fixed at Rs 57 for two-wheelers and Rs 120 for four-wheelers.
Monthly Passes and Heavy Vehicle Rates Also See Sharp Rise
The revision extends to monthly parking passes and charges for heavy vehicles. Monthly passes for two-wheelers are now a flat Rs 855, replacing the earlier options of Rs 400 for 12 hours and Rs 800 for 24 hours. For four-wheelers, the monthly pass is now Rs 1,800, a steep increase from the old rates of Rs 600 for daytime and Rs 800 for night parking.
At Transportnagar, meant for heavy vehicles, charges have risen sharply:
- Vehicles with up to six wheels: 12-hour charge up from Rs 40 to Rs 100.
- Vehicles with 7-10 wheels: New rate is Rs 200, up from Rs 60.
- Vehicles with more than 10 wheels: New rate is Rs 300, up from Rs 100.
Bus parking charges were kept unchanged at Rs 300.
Official Rationale and Public Concern
Parking in-charge Om Prakash Singh stated that the new rates were implemented to bring uniformity in parking operations across the city. Civic officials explained that the revised fee structure and privatisation of operations, approved in the LMC house meeting held earlier in September, would help improve enforcement and generate funds to support civic works.
However, the move has sparked concern among daily commuters. Many fear that the steep hike could discourage the use of designated parking lots, leading to an increase in illegal roadside parking, especially in busy commercial areas. This, in turn, could exacerbate traffic congestion—the very issue the policy aims to address.
LMC officials have assured that the proposal, approved by corporators in September, will be backed by stricter enforcement measures to ensure compliance and prevent chaos on the roads.
