New Delhi: South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) inaugurated its first RFID-based parking at Dwarka Sector-14 Metro Station on Thursday. Commuters can pay parking fees through FASTag, making the process cashless and paperless for hassle-free parking.
While the system is now fully operational at Dwarka metro station, SDMC aims to extend the facility to at least 10-15 other locations. Surface parking lots with proper entry and exit points for parking, such as GK-1 N Block, M Block, South Extension, GK II M Block, etc are up next, said an SDMC official.
The system will operate at six multi-level car parking lots such as Hauz Khas, Kalkaji, Munirka, and two shuttle and puzzle parking lots at Lajpat Nagar and Green Park.
Mayor Mukesh Suryan said that people would not face any difficulty paying parking charges as it will be automatically deducted from the tag pasted over the vehicles through the RFID system.
“We have implemented the system to encourage online payment of fees and authorised National Highway Authority of India’s IHMCL to collect parking charges from Dwarka Sector-14 Metro Station parking lot and will remit the same with the civic agency. The SDMC will reimburse the agency charge at the rate of 1% of the transaction value to the IHMCL,” said the mayor.
Considering there is a plan to set up the system at other places, the IHMCL will incur expenses related to setting up structures for toll collection, and the SDMC will not bear any cost.
Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti said that the system would also reduce time while parking the vehicles.
The SDMC presently has 140 surface parking lots for non-commercial vehicles, and of them, 113 are fully operational through contractors. Besides, there are six underground multi-level and two-stack parking lots operational right now.
“Considering the FASTag will only read the sticker pasted on four wheelers, for two-wheelers and remaining surface parking lots with no proper entry points, the civic agency aims to launch its mobile app by this Navratri,” said Prem Shankar Jha, deputy commissioner, remunerative and project cell, SDMC.
“The app will also help in locating total vacant space available for vehicles, location of parking, booking, end disputes/complaints about overcharging as exact timings will be recorded, the contractor can’t do cash collection and no excess parking beyond permissible limit as all information will be fed on online system monitored by the call centre. To attract people to download apps being made by a government organisation, we will also offer cashback or free parking facility on certain transactions,” added Jha.
