Bengaluru Parking Woes Escalate Amid Encroachments and Policy Inaction
Bengaluru’s once-peaceful residential neighbourhoods are now grappling with an overwhelming parking crisis, with vehicles spilling over onto footpaths, residential streets, and even public spaces. For residents like 28-year-old Shwetha Pillai from Indiranagar, the inability to park outside her own home due to encroachments by commercial establishments has turned daily life into a struggle. Many areas, particularly Indiranagar, J.P. Nagar, and Banashankari, have witnessed a surge in unauthorised parking by pre-owned car showrooms, travel agencies, and valet services from restaurants and pubs. Bengaluru’s soaring vehicle population—standing at a staggering 1.16 crore as of March 2024—has further exacerbated the crisis. Local citizens express frustration as spaces meant for pedestrians are now occupied by parked cars, forcing them onto congested roads. Despite the introduction of the Parking Policy 2.0 by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) in 2020, its implementation remains sluggish, worsening the situation.
While residential areas struggle with encroachments, major roads and flyovers have turned into informal parking hubs. Underpasses, metro stations, and outer ring roads have become prime spots for private buses and cabs, causing severe congestion. Kumarakrupa Road, for instance, has seen public seating areas under flyovers taken over by parked cabs and delivery bikes, leaving no space for pedestrians. Residents near Subramanyapura Lake have also raised concerns about travel company buses occupying entire lanes, making it difficult for pedestrians and commuters to navigate. Besides obstructing traffic, these vehicles contribute to sanitation issues, with instances of public urination making the environment unlivable for local residents. Business owners argue that they, too, face a space crunch and have no alternative but to park in public spaces. However, this unchecked encroachment points to the larger failure of Bengaluru’s municipal authorities in implementing a structured parking system.
The 2020 Parking Policy 2.0 was envisioned as a framework to regulate and monetise public parking, introducing a permit system that required residents to pay an annual fee for parking outside their homes. The policy also mandated that private transport operators utilise designated parking spaces instead of public streets. However, four years later, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has failed to execute these measures effectively. Officials cite resistance from commercial stakeholders and a lack of infrastructure as key roadblocks. While discussions on banning on-street parking are ongoing, no concrete action has been taken. Repeated calls for tenders to implement a smart parking system have gone unanswered, leaving the city in a state of parking anarchy. Meanwhile, cities like Mumbai and Chennai have successfully introduced digital parking solutions and multi-level parking systems to ease congestion, highlighting the lack of proactive governance in Bengaluru.
Bengaluru’s parking chaos also carries long-term sustainability implications. The absence of regulated parking leads to inefficient land use, increased vehicle emissions due to idling cars, and a deterioration of walkability. Encroachments on footpaths and cycle tracks discourage sustainable urban mobility options, forcing more people to rely on private vehicles, further straining the city’s infrastructure. A robust, sustainable parking strategy—integrating smart parking solutions, increased public transport accessibility, and stringent enforcement of encroachment laws—is critical to reversing this crisis. Until then, Bengaluru’s roads will continue to choke under the pressure of uncontrolled urban expansion and policy paralysis.
