GBA moots paid parking at 18 locations in Hebbal and Yelahanka to ease traffic congestion

BENGALURU: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is taking steps to alleviate traffic congestion in Hebbal and Yelahanka areas. To achieve this, it is introducing a paid parking system with three models — on-street parking, off-street parking, and no parking zones. The GBA has already identified 18 locations — 10 in Hebbal and eight in Yelahanka — for paid parking and has invited tenders for the project.

The authority has also procured two vehicles for towing and plans to start towing services soon. Vehicles parked in no-parking zones will be subject to towing charges, which are expected to be steep. For four-wheelers, the towing charge will be Rs 1000, and for two-wheelers, it will be Rs 500, in addition to traffic fines.

The move aims to manage traffic flow and encourage responsible parking habits in the area. Vehicle owners are advised to be cautious and avoid parking in no-parking zones to avoid towing charges and fines.

Bengaluru North City Corporation Commissioner told Public TV, “We have devised a comprehensive strategy to manage public and private spaces to ease traffic congestion and we are taking a few steps in this direction. These are on-street parking, off-street parking wherever we have space, and thirdly, towing. For on-street parking, we will once again study the roads which were identified by the Department of Urban Land Transport (DULT) and we have identified five roads in Hebbal and three in Yelahanka for paid on-street parking and tenders have already been called”.

Further, he said the corporation is in the process of identifying land for off-street parking. “Abandoned vehicles occupy two lanes of roads. Vehicles are also parked in no-parking zones. Also, vehicle owners resort to wrong parking, which obstruct traffic. Tenders have been called for towing vehicles. Apart from the fines that will be collected by the traffic police, the corporation will collect Rs 1,000 for four-wheelers and Rs 500 for two-wheelers as towing charges”.

As far as abandoned vehicles are concerned, the commissioner said the traffic police will first issue notices to the owners. “If the vehicles are not cleared, we will clear them from the roads and dump them at one place”, he said. “After coordinating with the NHAI and traffic police, we have managed to regulate traffic better at Byatarayanapura Circle”, he added.