Greater Chennai Corporation has announced that parking across all Corporation-managed locations in the city will be free from July 21. The move follows the end of the contractual agreement with the Tamil Nadu Ex-Servicemen’s Corporation (TEXCO), which previously oversaw fee-based parking operations across 10 key areas.
With this announcement, residents and visitors to Chennai will no longer be charged for parking at prominent sites such as Marina Beach Service Road, NSC Bose Road, Rattan Bazaar, Besant Nagar 6th Avenue, GN Chetty Road, Khadar Nawas Khan Road, Purusawakkam, Anna Nagar II Avenue, Mylapore Tank, and McNichols Road. Officials from the Chennai Corporation confirmed that the existing fee collection arrangement has been temporarily suspended as the civic body prepares to initiate a new tendering process for parking management. Until the new system is operational, all Corporation parking zones will remain free of cost, a move officials described as a public convenience step during the transition period.
The previous contract with TEXCO had come under scrutiny following complaints from citizens about unauthorised fee collections even after the term had officially ended. Although the Corporation had extended the contract once to manage continuity, complaints persisted, prompting civic authorities to now terminate all collections until a new service provider is appointed. This decision comes amid larger conversations about urban accessibility, sustainable mobility, and transparent governance in Indian cities. Free parking, while convenient for the public, raises questions about revenue losses and long-term congestion management. However, urban planning experts suggest this interim arrangement could allow Chennai to reimagine its parking policy in favour of more citizen-centric, tech-enabled, and climate-conscious solutions.
In light of this policy shift, the Chennai Corporation has also urged citizens to remain vigilant. Any instance of illegal parking fee collection can be reported via the Corporation’s official helpline at 1913. Officials emphasised that enforcement teams will be monitoring key zones to prevent exploitative practices during this transitional phase. While this temporary measure relieves immediate financial burdens on commuters, the civic body faces the dual challenge of ensuring a smooth transition to a future-ready parking management system and maintaining order and accessibility in high-demand urban spaces.
The decision is likely to be welcomed by daily commuters and shopgoers in busy commercial zones, especially as the city prepares for the monsoon season when traffic volumes and roadside congestion traditionally spike. As Chennai waits for the next contract cycle to begin, the current step signals a pause and a possible rethink in the city’s approach to public space use, mobility, and inclusive urban infrastructure.
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