NDMC’s smart parking plan for all 157 parking sites in Lutyens’ Delhi could bring higher user charges, with proposed rates rising by up to two or three times for some monthly passes and multi-level parking facilities.
The New Delhi Municipal Council is preparing to replace its existing parking arrangements with a technology-based system offering real-time slot availability, advance booking and digital payments. The proposed changes are linked to tenders issued for private agencies to operate and upgrade the sites.
According to tender details cited in the report, existing parking fees could rise by up to 50% under the proposed system. The 157 sites have been divided into three clusters, covering Connaught Place, its northern section and its southern section. The combined monthly licence fee for the three clusters has been fixed at ₹6.40 crore.
For four-wheelers, the proposed off-street parking fee is ₹30 per hour, compared with the existing ₹20. The on-street rate could rise from ₹50 to ₹70 per hour. The monthly off-street pass for four-wheelers is proposed to increase from ₹2,000 to ₹4,000, while the monthly fee for multi-level parking could rise from ₹1,000 to ₹3,300.
Two-wheeler users could also face higher charges. The off-street hourly fee is proposed to increase from ₹10 to ₹15, while the on-street fee could rise from ₹20 to ₹30. The monthly off-street pass could increase from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, and the multi-level parking pass from ₹500 to ₹1,000.
The proposed fee structure remains subject to the tender and implementation process. An official cited in the report said the bidding process is expected to be completed by December 2026, with work orders for the new operators likely to be issued in January 2027.
The smart parking system is expected to replace manual operations with automatic number plate recognition cameras, FASTag readers, boom barriers and digital displays showing available spaces. Drivers would be able to check availability, reserve slots, purchase monthly passes and make cashless payments through a mobile application and website.
The system is also planned to connect with a central parking operations control centre and the NDMC’s Integrated Command and Control Centre. This would allow real-time monitoring of parking sites and transactions, although the supplied report does not establish the final technology specifications, enforcement arrangements or the date on which the revised charges would take effect.
The proposed changes would make parking in central Delhi more digitally managed, but they would also raise the direct cost of accessing one of the capital’s busiest commercial, government and public destinations. The next formal milestones are completion of the bidding process and the possible issuance of work orders in January 2027.
