Bengaluru’s Apartments Embrace BBMP’s Multilevel Car Parking Initiative
In a recent city budget announcement, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to tackle the longstanding issue of roadside parking in Bengaluru. This innovative move involves increasing the stilt height in apartment buildings from 3 meters to 4.5 meters, allowing for the implementation of multilevel mechanical car parking systems. By enabling two cars to be parked one above the other, this measure seeks to alleviate the parking space scarcity that has plagued the city for years.
Builders of apartment complexes have welcomed this development with open arms, recognizing the potential to optimize limited parking space in their properties. However, individual home builders, the primary target of this initiative, have shown less enthusiasm, citing concerns about the additional costs and feasibility of implementing multilevel parking solutions. Despite the BBMP’s vision of revolutionizing parking infrastructure in Bengaluru, the lack of stringent policies to discourage roadside parking remains a significant deterrent for individual homeowners.
Traffic expert M. N. Srihari emphasizes the critical need for effective enforcement of parking regulations to address the root cause of the issue. He advocates for radical solutions, such as tying car purchases to proof of available parking spaces, to incentivize property owners to invest in on-site parking facilities. Without comprehensive measures to discourage roadside parking, the mere increase in stilt height alone may fall short of resolving the city’s parking woes.
Chief Civic Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath sheds light on the BBMP’s future plans to introduce policies that discourage roadside parking and promote multilevel parking solutions. Ideas under consideration include granting owners of vacant lots the right to develop multilevel parking facilities for a fee, coupled with the authority to tow cars parked on the roadside in designated areas. These proactive measures aim to shift the paradigm of parking management towards a more sustainable and efficient model.
While individual homeowners remain hesitant to embrace multilevel parking systems, the apartment sector is poised to leverage the newfound flexibility in stilt height to enhance parking provisions for residents. Suresh Hari of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), Karnataka, underscores the significance of this change in boosting the marketability of apartment units. With the ability to accommodate two cars in a single parking space, mid-range and high-end apartments stand to benefit greatly from this policy shift.
In conclusion, the BBMP’s initiative to increase stilt height and promote multilevel car parking represents a significant step towards addressing Bengaluru’s parking challenges. By fostering a culture of responsible parking practices and incentivizing property owners to invest in efficient parking solutions, the city can pave the way for a more sustainable urban environment. As stakeholders across the real estate sector adapt to these changes, the future of parking management in Bengaluru holds promising prospects for both residents and builders alike.
