In a major step aimed at easing traffic congestion and addressing the city’s chronic parking woes, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that new vehicle registrations will require proof of a designated parking space approved by the local civic authority.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting focused on finalizing the state’s upcoming parking policy. The new directive will primarily impact vehicle buyers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), where illegal and unregulated parking has become a pressing urban challenge.
“We are planning dedicated parking facilities and strict adherence to development rules. Builders must include parking provisions with residential units. From now on, buyers will need to submit a parking space allotment certificate from the respective municipal body to register their vehicles,” said Minister Sarnaik.
Highlighting the severity of the parking crunch, Sarnaik added that the Urban Development Department is considering innovative solutions—such as underground parking plazas beneath open recreational spaces—to free up road space and improve accessibility.
In addition to the parking initiative, the minister spoke about the state’s progress on advanced public transport solutions. He confirmed that a pod taxi project is under active review. “A detailed presentation on pod taxis has been made. I also visited Vadodara, which is on track to launch the world’s first commercial suspended pod-car system,” he noted.
Maharashtra is exploring similar pod taxi systems in areas like Mira-Bhayandar and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to enhance first-and-last-mile connectivity with metro stations and reduce surface traffic.
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