Chennai: Whenever Calvin N travels he notes how walkable other cities are compared to Chennai. “Here, a footpath is an obstacle course, with shops and other encroachments in the way,” says the 24-year-old Koyambedu resident. “A big chunk of them are parked vehicles,” he says.Chennai Metropolitan Area has 92 lakh registered vehicles, according to 2022 RTO data, with the city fighting a losing battle for road space. Cars, two-wheelers, cabs, autos and other vehicles spill onto carriageways and footpaths, while residential streets double up as parking lots and taxi stands, pushing pedestrians onto the road.With on-street parking still free in the city, multi-level car parking infrastructure remains underused. “Around 2019-2020, parking regulation was being tried through a technology-driven model, but it did not work. C parking policy provides a better picture,” said Venugopal AV, program manager, ITDP India.According to the Strategy & Action Plan Parking Policy for the Chennai Metropolitan Area (January 2025) by CUMTA, a Parking Management Unit will be set up under CUMTA. A dedicated unit will prepare parking management and implementation plans, recommend pricing and enforcement strategies, and provide regular suggestions for improvement. It also proposes an Area-Level Parking Management Plan to assess parking demand and supply, manage curbsides and improve accessibility at the neighbourhood level.Tenders have already been floated for an Area-Level Parking Management Plan, said Venugopal. “Earlier attempts at parking regulation were made in areas like Besant Nagar. We are starting area-level parking management with Anna Nagar, but that alone will not be enough. We also need to look beyond Chennai city limits, as Tambaram and Kancheepuram fall under the CMA,” he said.Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G S Sameeran said the civic body is reviving its on-street parking regulation and that studies are underway. “Teams have identified 20 packages across the city. Through a PPP model using AI-powered cameras and digital payments, we are planning to regulate parking. Price points will be set and will vary based on peak hours. On-street prices will be higher than those in an MLCP. But it will be affordable for all,” he said.Civic activist Vandana Viswanath described parking as a “hidden cost” and said regulation must begin at the building approval level. “40 to 50% of the roads in our streets are filled with vehicles. No amount of flyovers or road widening will fix this problem. We need strong rules right at the building approval levels.”In older parts of the city and residential hubs including RA Puram, Egmore, George Town and Adyar, buildings were built without parking provisions. “Parts of Mogappair and Velachery are ever-expanding. Newer developments should have parking lots,” she said. She added that near parks, small streets become parking lots for users. “Even in emergencies, fire vehicles will not be able to enter the roads with so many parked vehicles,” she said.Venugopal added that staff hired for parking regulation in the future need to be monitored to avoid leakages. Sameeran said police would also be involved to ensure better implementation, while digital payments would help prevent leakages.“A country develops not when a poor man takes a car but when a rich man takes public transport,” Vandhana said adding that effective implementation, public awareness and better public transport will be crucial if Chennai is to reclaim road space from parked vehicles.
