KMC Prepares to Hike Parking Fee in the Core Areas

KMC Prepares to Hike Parking Fee in Core Areas

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City is preparing to hike parking fee in the core areas of the city. The KMC will be increasing the parking fee by up to five times. It is also planning to provide separate parking lots to the public vehicles.

The KMC currently has a legal provision of charging NPR. 5 and NPR. 20 per hour for the two-wheelers and four-wheelers, respectively. Since the officials are planning to hike parking fee in the core areas, the prices are likely to increase up to NPR. 25 per hour for the two-wheelers and NPR. 80 per hour for the four-wheelers. Moreover, the heavy vehicles in such areas will have to pay NPR. 100 per hour is the new parking rules come into effect.

Gyanendra Karki, the spokesperson for KMC said the parking areas would be divided into two categories on the basis of traffic congestion. The core market areas of the city, such as New Road, Dharmapath, Kantipath, Tripureshwor, Durbarmarg, Putalisadak, and Baneshwor would be categorized as highly congested areas where the parking fee is likely to be high. Parking areas in less congested areas will be NPR. 15 and NPR. 40 for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, respectively.

According to a report prepared by KMC, it has identified 82 parking areas in the core areas of the city and it has also stated that the roadside parking will not exceed more than 25 percent of the total roads’ width. The report was endorsed by KMC Council Meeting on July 11.

It was also stated in the report that the new parking rule would come into effect from July 17, 2018. However, the KMC has not started allocating parking lots in the core areas yet.

Karki said they will start allocating parking lots in the areas in a few days. The responsibilities of managing parking lots will be given to private contractors.

He further said the money paid by the businessman and shopkeepers to the government for occupying road space is very low and the new rule would encourage the private shopping malls and business houses to build their own parking lots.

“We have introduced the new rule to discourage businessman and shopkeepers, who keep their vehicles all day long in busy market streets outside their shops. The money they pay to the government for occupying road space is very low. We hope that this rule will also encourage shopping malls and business houses to build their own parking lots,” Karki said.

So, do you guys think the move of hiking parking fee in core areas is a good initiative to reduce road traffic congestion in the city? Feel free to drop your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

 

News Source: The Himalayan Times
Featured Image: bigulnews.com

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