Navi Mumbai, once dubbed the “City of the 21st Century,” is now struggling under the weight of its own rapid growth. As redevelopment transforms the cityscape, residents warn that parking woes, already significant, are reaching crisis levels. The surge in new high-rises, commercial complexes, and population density has led to increased vehicle congestion and a shortage of parking spaces, especially in core sectors.
Social activist who have also been a long-time resident and the convenor of the Alert Citizens Team (ACT), has raised concerns with local authorities, pointing to poorly managed parking on major roads like the 12-kilometre stretch from Vashi Railway Station to Airoli. “CIDCO planned this road as a six-lane thoroughfare similar to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, but it’s often reduced to a two-lane drivable area due to chaotic parking on both sides,” said. He believes that Navi Mumbai’s urban planners did not anticipate the explosive rise in vehicles, which is now clogging roads and parking areas.
In neighbourhoods such as Sector 29, where temples and residential buildings converge on narrow two-lane roads, parking has become a major bottleneck. Local resident who has advocated for better traffic management, highlighted how vehicles frequently block pavements, forcing pedestrians onto the road. “With so many cars and bikes, it’s impossible to walk or drive safely here,” she said, adding that the traffic police have pledged to implement a single-side parking rule, though enforcement remains inconsistent.
Business districts like Vashi’s Sector 17 are equally affected. Sunil Wankhede, a private-sector employee, described his daily struggle to find parking for both himself and visiting clients. “We spend a lot of time going in circles looking for space, which affects business and is highly frustrating,” he explained.
The redevelopment projects in Vashi’s Sectors 9, 10, and 16 are seen as an escalating factor in the parking crisis. With smaller buildings making way for 20-storey complexes, residents worry that the narrow access roads will be unable to accommodate increased traffic. “Even with parking in the buildings, the added vehicles will create a nightmare on the streets,” warned Kumar. Efforts by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and traffic police, such as an odd-even date parking rule, have not had the desired impact, with widespread non-compliance leading to further blockages.
Sector-15 residents in CBD Belapur, meanwhile, are battling against the planned Kharghar-Nerul coastal road, which will pass through their neighbourhood. Activist Shubhangi Tirodkar emphasized the potential loss of a green belt that the community has nurtured over the years, fearing that the new road will disrupt their area’s calm and worsen parking issues.
An official from the Navi Mumbai Regional Transport Office noted that vehicle registrations are increasing at a rate of 8% annually, putting further strain on the city’s infrastructure. “The challenge is not only finding parking but also ensuring that green spaces and quality of life are preserved as the city grows,” resident added. Navi Mumbai residents are calling for immediate and strategic intervention, from enhanced parking regulations to sustainable urban planning, before the situation deteriorates further.
