Revising Pune’s Parking Policy: Moving Towards Smarter, Fairer Reforms
Written by Sanika Gandhi
Beyond The Blueprint is the Blog Series by Pune International Centre (PIC) under Centre for Cooperative Federalism and Multilevel Governance. It explores cities beyond policy, using data, field insights and analysis, bringing governance closer to people.
This month’s blog covers the theme of Urban Mobility. Pune’s outdated parking policy, last revised in 2016, struggles to manage the city’s rapid vehicle growth and urban expansion. Despite increasing population density and vehicles, inconsistent enforcement and lack of smart infrastructure worsen congestion. The blog calls for a modern, equitable, and tech-driven approach to make Pune’s streets smarter and fairer.
Pune RTO has managed to surpass the milestone of 3 lakh vehicle registrations in a single year, a figure which captures the city’s rapid motorisation and growing strain on the urban infrastructure. Yet, Pune’s Parking Policy, designed a decade ago, remains unchanged. Originally framed in 2016 to ease congestion and manage parking spaces, the policy today struggles to keep up with the fast-changing urban landscape. Its influence is limited due to its outdated zoning, misplaced focus and inconsistent enforcement. As the city expands with new growing commercial and residential zones and the metro connectivity, a renewed approach towards parking is essential. A universal pay-and-park system supported by demand-based pricing and efficient infrastructure can help Pune enhance its mobility systems. It’s time to rethink parking as a privilege rather than a right.
Why does Pune’s Parking Policy Need an Overhaul?
The city’s 2016 Parking policy took its aims from the Comprehensive mobility plan, which is focused on reducing vehicle kilometres, and ensuring that 80% of the motorised trips occur via public transport by 2031. In an attempt to address transportation and environmental concerns, the policy lost its focus on the main purpose. A parking policy should simply focus on balancing the supply and demand of parking; nevertheless, Pune’s framework linked parking management to broader mobility goals. The current policy fails to solve the current vehicle and road congestion scenario because free On-street parking spaces account majority of the parking demand. In comparison, the off-street lots remain unused. Another issue lies in the implementation of the policy; despite the mention of digitalisation of the parking meters in the policy, very few are operational. Even more problematic are the exemptions granted for electric vehicles, government vehicles and residents with on-street parking permits. Although well-intended, these exemptions result in inconsistent parking access. Since roads are public spaces, the premise should be simple: everyone pays to occupy a public space.
The Pricing Paradox: A Formula Out Of Touch With Reality
The policy’s pricing formula was designed to be fair and flexible, with rates computed based on the rise in vehicle registrations. In reality, this approach does not reflect the specific parking demand. Owning a vehicle does not necessarily mean using it daily or parking it in public spaces. The current pricing formula ignores this nuance. Similarly, linking the prices to maximum ready reckoner rates across the city, rather than the area-specific land values, leads to unfair pricing. Low-demand neighbourhoods end up overpaying, while high-demand areas like Shivajinagar or FC road remain underpriced. This not only distorts the usage of the parking spaces but also reduces PMC’s potential revenue. A better solution to this pricing mechanism would be a domain-based dynamic pricing.
The current zoning system divides Pune into three categories: Central Business Districts, Key mobility corridors and peripheral areas based on the urban landscape in 2016. But the city has transformed. Areas like Baner, Kharadi, and Hinjewadi are now rapidly growing as commercial centres, yet they are still classified as the low-demand zones according to the policy. Moreover, the introduction of metro lines has increased parking demand near feeder points and metro stations. Without updating these zones, parking fees remain out of sync with reality. A revised zoning map based on actual and the latest data is required to improve the accuracy of the pricing mechanism.
Urban Growth, Redevelopment and Policy Pressure
Beyond outdated zoning, the policy is not well-equipped to handle the mounting pressure from increased Floor Space Index and ongoing redevelopment projects across the city. Large-scale residential developments in central and inner-city neighbourhoods will significantly increase population density, housing supply and consequently the number of vehicles using the parking space. The demand will multiply, giving additional strains on both on-street and off-street facilities. Similarly, road widening projects often come at the cost of curbside parking and pedestrian safety, further squeezing the available space. A policy revision, considering these changes, will enable management to address congestion and equitably allocate parking spaces.
Towards a Universal Pay and Park System
The most significant shift that Pune requires is a Universal pay and park model, as opposed to the current situation in the city. Free on-street parking options encourage vehicle registrations, usage of public spaces, and weaken the investments in sustainable mobility. Unless every parking spot, whether on-street or off-street, is priced and monitored, citizens will continue to see parking as an entitlement. A universal paid system doesn’t always mean high fees; it means fair fees for fair use.
Why Demand-Based Pricing works better
Demand-based pricing creates a fairer system than the current formula. Instead of assuming that ownership equals demand, it relies on real-time occupancy data to reflect parking demand. It helps regulate parking duration, encourages turnover, and discourages long-term on-street parking in busy areas. By using data sensors and rigorous data analytics, the pricing mechanism will be more responsive, dynamic and transparent. Demand-based pricing will help align costs with real usage rather than arbitrary indicators.
Infrastructure, Governance and Accountability
Pune’s Parking problem is also about quality and governance. Many public lots are poorly maintained with unhygienic conditions and lack basic amenities. The city needs a dedicated parking management authority to coordinate planning, operation and enforcement. There should be regular assessments of the off-street parking demand and supply, near metro stations and high-density zones, to guide the facilities. As Pune adopts a higher Floor Space Index(FSI) under its transit-oriented development policy, it must take care of the increased residents and the vehicle registration. Another area of focus could be the integration of public and private lots to prevent arbitrary pricing. The city can also explore shared-use parking, where private spaces like malls or office basements are used for public use during off-hours. With clear agreements and digital coordination, such an initiative can greatly expand capacity without consuming new land.
The parking policy must also be updated and backed by technology. A centralised app or a database could display available spots, enable digital payments and provide real-time data for administrators and users. Using e-challan systems can make enforcement smoother, reduce corruption and help automate fines. Moreover, PMC must maintain and use the Urban Transport Fund to channel parking revenues into sustainable mobility.
Pune’s Parking story mirrors that of many growing cities, rapid motorisation, fragmented policies and lagging enforcement. But the path forward is clear: a demand-driven and citizen-focused parking policy. Pune must update its zoning and pricing, create a dedicated parking authority, invest in digital platforms and ensure a parking revenue fund. Ultimately, parking is not just about where vehicles stand but about how the city moves. By treating parking as a shared, limited resource, Pune can pave the way for a smarter and fairer street.
Beyond The Blueprint is an initiative of the Pune International Centre (PIC) under the Centre for Cooperative Federalism and Multilevel Governance. PIC is an independent and multidimensional policy think tank based in Pune. PIC does not solicit any payments or subscriptions for this blog series.
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