The New Delhi Municipal Council’s proposed parking policy would double hourly parking charges in Lutyens’ Delhi after midnight, increasing costs for people who stay late at markets, restaurants and other commercial areas. The proposal also provides for higher charges for cash payments and the towing and storage of vehicles that remain parked for more than 24 hours.
The policy is linked to an NDMC tender for operating and upgrading 157 parking sites in the council area. According to a report by Jagran – New Delhi, the sites have a combined capacity equivalent to around 15,060 cars and are proposed to receive smart parking facilities.
Under the proposed arrangement, the hourly parking fee after 12 midnight would be twice the normal rate. Drivers paying in cash would also be charged double the applicable parking fee. The tender provides for Fastag-based payments, digital payment options and real-time information on vacant parking spaces.
The proposed policy also sets out charges for vehicles removed by crane. Cars would attract a towing fee of Rs 1,000 and a storage charge of Rs 500 per day at the designated site. For light goods vehicles, the proposed towing charge is Rs 3,000, with storage costing Rs 1,000 per day. The same towing and storage rates are proposed for medium passenger vehicles.
Vehicles removed from no-parking zones would also be subject to the specified towing and storage charges. The provisions create a direct cost link between parking violations, enforcement action and the length of time a vehicle remains at the designated holding facility.
The proposed changes come as the Delhi government is working on plans to promote nightlife in the capital. In central Delhi, however, the parking policy would make late-night access more expensive for motorists and could alter how visitors use markets and restaurants after midnight.
The tender is intended to bring the council’s parking facilities under a technology-enabled operating system, with digital payments and live occupancy information forming part of the planned upgrade. The source report does not specify when the revised charges would take effect or whether the proposed rates have received final approval from the NDMC.
