Parking management has always been a disputable issue in India because of the lack of infrastructure, insufficient space, and lack of resources. With the country’s rapid urbanisation, there has been a leading surge in the number of vehicles on the roads. As the people of India develop more, they are moving towards the fast-paced lives of western countries. While this will increase the mobility of citizens, it will also result in significant pressure on the country’s infrastructure and resources. Along with improper management systems, the insufficiency of the parking area and efficient systems, it has become impossible to resolve the parking problems of the country.
Poor parking management is the primary cause of all the parking-related issues in India. It worsens these issues by causing further inevitable problems, including traffic congestion, air pollution, and hindering economic growth.
In this blog, we will cover the impacts of poor parking management, its causes, and effective solutions for enhancing parking management in India.
The Impact of Poor Parking Management on Indian Cities
Poor parking management has a major impact on urban areas and causes a lot of hindrance in traffic movement. Some of the effects are mentioned below:
- Traffic Congestion
Poor parking management contributes significantly to traffic congestion in cities across India. Drivers parking their vehicles haphazardly anywhere cause roadblocks and slow traffic movement. It leads to longer commutes and increased fuel consumption which cause harm to the environment as well. Additionally, parked vehicles can occupy a significant portion of the road, reducing the width of the lanes, which not only causes a restriction in vehicle motion but can also be a reason for road accidents.
- Air Pollution
Vehicles stuck in traffic due to poor parking management often keep their engines on while standing idling in the traffic, which leads to increased air pollution levels and unnecessary fuel consumption. The increased level of air pollution is especially problematic in cities like Delhi, where pollution levels are already dangerously high leading to several health problems. According to the WHO, air pollution is responsible for over 7 million deaths worldwide, and India has some of the highest levels of air pollution globally.
- Economic Growth
Poor parking management can be a hurdle in economic growth for the nation and an individual person, as it can be the reason for maximum fuel and other resource consumption. Also, it can retain customers from reaching the business by reducing access and discouraging potential customers from visiting commercial areas. For example, if a shopping complex does not have adequate parking, shoppers may choose to go elsewhere, resulting in lost revenue for businesses in the area. Furthermore, employees whose workplace doesn’t have a proper parking facility will struggle to find parking and may be late for work, leading to decreased productivity and increased costs for employers.
Causes of Poor Parking Management in Indian Cities
Due to insufficient parking space, people end up parking unauthorisedly anywhere they find space, resulting in chaotic, congested, and bottleneck roads. There can be various causes of poor parking management; some of the major ones are as follows:
- Inadequate Planning
Poor planning can result in a shortage of parking spaces or inadequate distribution of parking spaces, leading to congestion, accidents, and inefficient use of resources.
- Lack of Technology
The absence of advanced technology, such as parking sensors, digital payment systems, and parking applications, can lead to less efficient use of parking resources, longer queues, and increased frustration among drivers.
- Insufficient Enforcement
Inconsistent or lack of enforcement of parking rules can lead to abuse of parking spaces, illegal parking, and decreased compliance with parking regulations.
- Poor Design and Layout
Poorly designed and haphazardly arranged parking lots can lead to confusion, inefficient use of space, and difficulty in navigating available parking areas.
- Inadequate Maintenance
Poor maintenance of parking lots, such as potholes, debris, and poor lighting, can lead to accidents and decreased usage.
- Insufficient Capacity
Insufficient parking capacity in high-demand areas can lead to a shortage of parking spaces, congestion, and increased traffic.
Solutions to Improve Parking Management in Indian Cities
People have to face several parking problems, and we need suitable solutions to tackle them. For better transportation in India, we need adequate parking management & enforcement system. Some of the most suitable solutions are:
- Adopt Smart Parking Solutions
One of the most effective ways to improve parking management is by adopting smart parking solutions. These solutions use technology such as sensors and cameras to monitor parking spots and look out for unauthorised parkers and violators. This not only reduces parking space violations but also helps optimise its utilisation.
- Implement Parking Policies
The government can significantly improve parking management by implementing parking policies such as time-based parking and zoning regulations. Time-based parking ensures that drivers pay for the time they park, which encourages turnover and prevents long-term parking, thus limiting parking duration. While zoning regulations assure that parking is only allowed in designated areas.
- Encourage Public Transportation
Encouraging the use of public transportation can significantly reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and, in turn, improve parking management. The government can invest in expanding public transportation networks and promote the use of bicycles and electric vehicles. Additionally, employers can offer incentives such as transit passes or vehicle-sharing programs to encourage employees to use public transportation.
- Promote Carpooling
Carpooling effectively reduces the number of vehicles on the road and decreases the demand for parking spaces. The government can incentivise carpooling by offering reduced parking rates for carpoolers, or private companies can encourage their employees to carpool by offering redemption charges.
- Increase Parking Infrastructure
The government can also improve parking management by increasing parking infrastructure in urban areas by collaborating with private organisations for efficient infrastructure building. This includes building multi-level parking structures, designated parking lots, and underground parking facilities. By increasing the number of available parking spaces, drivers will have more options and will be less likely to park illegally.
Conclusion
Poor parking management has significant social, economic, and environmental impacts on India. It is a problem that affects everyone, from drivers who struggle to find parking to business owners who lose revenue due to insufficient parking space for all motorists. Overall, poor parking management can lead to a wide range of problems for both drivers and pedestrians, including traffic congestion, decreased safety, and reduced economic growth.
Effective parking management is crucial for the smooth functioning of Indian cities. However, by adopting smart parking solutions, implementing parking policies, constructing multi-level parking facilities, enforcing parking regulations, encouraging public transportation & carpooling, and increasing parking infrastructure, we can significantly improve parking management in Indian cities, create a more liveable & sustainable urban environment and reduce the negative impact of poor parking on the urban environment in India.
Law enforcement is really essential for effective parking management; thus, there are several private parking enforcement companies that are working to improve and enhance the parking situation in our country. Thus, Indian Parking Association, a non-profit organisation, provide membership to such companies for better parking management and enforcement in India.