School playgrounds, open spaces and areas beneath flyovers may be converted into organised parking facilities to ease traffic congestion
Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is preparing a comprehensive ‘Pay and Park’ policy aimed at curbing haphazard parking, reducing road congestion and ensuring smoother traffic movement across the city. Under the proposed plan, the civic body is exploring the use of its vacant land, school playgrounds after school hours, open grounds and spaces beneath or near flyovers to develop organised parking hubs.
The initiative seeks to move beyond conventional roadside parking and make better use of available civic assets while generating revenue for the municipal corporation.
Joint survey with traffic police
The move follows a preliminary joint survey conducted in coordination with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic). The exercise mapped congestion-prone locations across Nagpur, identifying major roads where irregular parking contributes to traffic bottlenecks.
The survey also identified nearby government and municipal properties that could be developed into regulated parking facilities, helping divert vehicles away from congested roads.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Ankit confirmed that the civic administration is working on the proposed framework.
“We are developing a comprehensive parking policy to streamline vehicle movement and eliminate haphazard parking, which is currently depriving the municipal corporation of legitimate revenue,” he said.
He added that the NMC is considering fencing off municipal school playgrounds after school hours, using open civic grounds and creating designated one-sided parking bays along wider roads and near flyovers.
Digital system to provide live parking updates
The civic body is studying parking demand, vehicle capacity and fee structures adopted by other major cities before finalising the policy. Consultations with stakeholders are also planned.
According to Ankit, the proposal will be discussed at the upcoming General Body Meeting (GBM), following which the implementation framework will be decided. The NMC aims to initiate implementation before the winter session of the state legislature.
The proposed system is also expected to have a digital component. Under the plan, motorists may be able to check the real-time availability of parking spaces through a mobile dashboard before travelling to their destinations.
The facility is intended to help drivers locate available parking more easily, reduce unnecessary circulation in search of parking and improve traffic management in busy areas.
Private parking operators to continue
The NMC has clarified that existing private parking operators will not be prohibited from operating, provided they comply with municipal regulations and do not obstruct the flow of traffic.
With the draft policy being prepared, the civic body is targeting a launch by the end of 2026. The final timeline and operational details will depend on the policy approval process.
If implemented effectively, the initiative could help Nagpur make better use of underutilised municipal land, improve parking discipline and create an additional revenue stream for the civic administration.
