Bhubaneswar, July 30 (UDN): The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to introduce a paid parking system in residential neighbourhoods as part of a broader initiative to tackle roadside parking and improve traffic movement across the city.
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The proposal envisions the development of dedicated parking facilities on vacant government land in different wards, offering residents without private parking spaces a secure and organised alternative to parking vehicles along narrow residential roads.
BMC officials said zonal deputy commissioners have been instructed to identify suitable government-owned land that can be converted into neighbourhood parking lots. The civic body plans to develop these facilities using its own resources before rolling out a user-fee-based parking system.
Residents using the designated parking spaces are likely to pay a nominal fee, with authorities considering flexible payment options, including monthly and annual subscriptions, to make the system more convenient for regular users.
Officials said the number of parking facilities in each ward will depend on local demand, available land, and the volume of vehicles. Larger wards or areas with higher parking pressure could have multiple parking lots to meet residents’ needs.
The initiative comes amid increasing concerns over indiscriminate roadside parking in residential areas, where growing vehicle ownership and expanding commercial activities have reduced road space and disrupted traffic flow. Residents and public representatives have repeatedly raised the issue, citing blocked access for emergency vehicles, daily commuters, and pedestrians.
The proposed parking policy is expected to complement the civic body’s ongoing efforts to improve urban traffic management. Earlier, the BMC had announced plans for a ward-wise survey to assess parking requirements and regulate commercial establishments that use public land for customer parking.
Officials indicated that businesses occupying government land for parking purposes could also be brought under a regulated parking fee system as part of the city’s broader parking management strategy.
The operational framework, including user charges, maintenance, and management of the parking facilities, will be finalised after the identification of suitable land across all wards.
Once implemented, the initiative is expected to reduce haphazard roadside parking, improve accessibility within residential neighbourhoods, and create a steady revenue stream to support future civic infrastructure and urban mobility projects in Bhubaneswar.