Cars in Delhi to get costlier as one-time parking charges hiked up to 18 times

If you are planning to buy a car in the national capital, then get ready to spend more this new year as the Delhi Transport Department has approved a recommendation for a one-time parking hike which will come into effect from January 1, 2019. According to the order, the charges will now range between Rs 6,000 and Rs 75,000. The Delhi Transport Department, which collects the parking charges on behalf of the MCDs, has approved the recommendation for the hike by three municipal corporations of the city.

The order, issued by outgoing transport commissioner Varsha Joshi on Friday, angered bus and taxi operators as the annual parking fee for different categories of commercial vehicles will rise from the existing Rs 2,500-Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000-Rs 25,000.

According to the order, based on the cost of a vehicle, the one-time parking charge for private cars and SUVs will range between Rs 6,000 and Rs 75,000 -- 18 times the existing rate of Rs 4,000.

The process of charging the money during vehicle registration is prescribed through a notification of Union Urban Affairs Ministry not by the transport department, Joshi, who has taken charge as North Delhi Municipal Corporation's commissioner, told news agency PTI.

The transport department only acts like the post office in the process, she said.

The parking charges mechanism will be replaced by spot parking fees after new parking regulations are notified by the Delhi government, she said.

"Till then this mechanism will be applicable. So, we followed an urban affairs ministry notification and issued these orders," she added.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, however, denied having any information about the hike.

"I am not aware of any such decision," he said.

Displeased by the government order, transporters in the city threatened to stage a protest against the hike.

"We will meet the chief minister and the transport minister on Monday against the hike because it will impact us negatively. If need be, we will resort to a strike also," said Shyam Lal Gola, spokesperson of State Transport Authority Operators Ekta Manch.

(With PTI inputs)