Mumbai: The BMC has always been slammed for not taking possession of its plots developed by private builders, which were planned as public parking lots (PPL).
There were 37 such plots across Mumbai, but the latest data reveals that BMC has succeeded in taking hold of 23 plots from developers, of which, 15 are in use as PPLs while tendering for the remaining eight is underway. The capacity of 23 PPLs is 16,395 vehicles, which include 15,133 cars, 562 bikes and the rest heavy vehicles. The 15 lots which have been started are getting a fair response from Mumbaikars as traffic police and BMC have taken steps for awareness.
These 23 PPLs are located in areas like Lower Parel, Worli, Kanjurmarg, Bhandup, Kurla, Marine Lines, Girgaum and the western side of Andheri, Jogeshwari, Vile Parle etc. The PPLs are getting a fair response.
An officer from the traffic department said, “The PPLs were not having a good response earlier. But now, after awareness and police action like imposing fines on the cars parked on streets, the motorists have been encouraged to park in the PPLs. The charges to park on roads are much more than in PPLs. We are having continuous meetings with the Mumbai traffic police department for various steps to be taken to encourage people to use the multi-storeyed parking lots”.
“If any car is parked in the 500 metre area outside the PPL, there is a hefty fine, but there was no strict implementation. The police is now taking strict action due to which the PPLs are being used by people,” he said.
