Bengaluru: Bengaluru may soon see major changes in the way vehicles are parked on city roads, with the Karnataka Urban Development Department notifying a draft of the Greater Bengaluru Area (Parking) Rules, 2026.
The proposed rules seek to reduce traffic congestion by discouraging free on-street parking and promoting dedicated off-street facilities.
Parking on city roads may no longer be free
Under the draft rules, public parking will no longer be free, except for bicycle and autorickshaw stands. The proposed charges would also apply to residents who park their vehicles on roads near their homes.
On Grade A roads, the minimum recommended on-street parking fee is Rs 80 per hour for cars, while off-street parking would cost at least Rs 40 per hour.
The draft also proposes prohibiting on-street parking within a specified area around off-street public parking facilities to encourage motorists to use designated lots.
Residential parking to require permits
One of the biggest proposed changes concerns residential parking. Parking on streets other than arterial and sub-arterial roads would be permitted only for vehicles with residential parking permits.
The proposed annual fee is Rs 15,000 for small cars, Rs 20,000 for sedans and Rs 25,000 for SUVs. Permits would be linked to the vehicle and resident and renewed annually.
More parking spaces planned
The rules propose using land owned by the five city corporations to develop off-street parking facilities. Owners of vacant plots could also be encouraged to provide public parking by offering exemptions from property tax and trade licences, subject to operating requirements.
Bengaluru has around 2.5 million registered cars and 8.67 million two-wheelers. The draft rules are now open for public comments and could significantly change parking practices across the city.