The Indian Express         30.11.2013

BMC starts web-based parking in south Mumbai

To keep track of vehicles parked in public spots, BMC has now started a web-based parking project. In a pilot initiative, the project has been implemented in parking lots near Eros Cinema and Regal Cinema in south Mumbai.

The project is aimed at producing computerised parking receipts, the data of which will be transferred to a centralised system.

"Space is a major problem in the city. You will find cars parked on footpaths. With this initiative, we want to tackle the problem of parking," said additional municipal commissioner S V R Srinivas.

While the pilot project has been implemented in South Mumbai this month, BMC plans to extend it across the city. "We will look for loopholes and examine the technical details before implementing it across the city," Srinivas added.

The BMC software will record the number of cars or any other vehicle being parked, its type and model, entry and exit time and number of hours it was parked. The administration also plans to bring the system online. "We have to look into other details there. Suppose a person books a spot from 10-11 am but reaches there at 10.30 am, then what is to be done? Once we get the backbone of this system, we will also look into online booking," added Srinivas.

Meanwhile, corporators opposed the involvement of additional contractors, namely software companies that will be involved in the data-entry of the vehicles. Congress Corporator and standing committee member Pravin Chheda said, "We can involve the Mahila Bachat Ghats or even existing contractors for the project. Why can't the civic body work towards their benefit by employing them?"