Extra burden: Minister asks Shivakumar to rethink planned Bengaluru parking fee hike

Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy has urged Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to review Bengaluru's proposed annual roadside parking fee. He said the charges could hurt middle-class families lacking parking space at home.In a letter dated Monday, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the need to regulate roadside parking was understandable, given the rising number of vehicles and traffic problems in the city. (Photo: Pixabay)Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy has asked Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to reconsider the proposed annual fee of Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 for roadside vehicle parking in Bengaluru, saying it could place an extra financial burden on middle-class and ordinary families.In a letter dated Monday, Reddy said the need to regulate roadside parking was understandable, given the rising number of vehicles and traffic problems in the city.He, however, said the economic condition of ordinary citizens should be taken into account before the charges are introduced. According to the draft GBA (Parking) Rules, 2026, Bengaluru residents who want to park vehicles on public roads outside their homes may have to pay an annual residential parking fee of up to Rs 25,000, depending on the type of vehicle.The draft rules propose an annual residential parking permit fee of Rs 15,000 for hatchbacks, Rs 20,000 for sedans and Rs 25,000 for sports utility vehicles. Reddy said middle-class and ordinary families were already under financial pressure because of rising prices of essential commodities and higher spending on cooking gas, petrol, diesel, GST and tolls. “Imposing an additional annual parking fee of Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 merely for owning a vehicle could become another financial burden on such families,” he said.The minister said the state government had introduced various welfare guarantee schemes to improve living standards and provide economic support, and care should therefore be taken to ensure that families in urban areas were not put under another unavoidable financial burden. He said that while some residents with large plots or independent houses could park vehicles within their premises, most middle-class families lived in houses with limited space or in apartments and often did not have adequate parking facilities.Reddy welcomed the focus on parking arrangements under rules for new building construction. At the same time, he said it was often not possible to provide parking facilities in older buildings and residential areas of Bengaluru in line with the city’s current vehicle population.“Many families are already managing home and vehicle loans, children’s education, healthcare and other day-to-day expenses. In this context, an additional annual parking fee could put a financial burden on them,” he said.He said regulating roadside parking through suitable fees and penalties was necessary and that he welcomed such measures. However, he urged the government to consider exemptions for ordinary families who did not regularly use their vehicles and did not have parking facilities within their buildings.He also suggested that the government consult Bengaluru legislators, civil society organisations and concerned officials before taking a final decision. “It would be appropriate to take a decision after considering the public interest and the ground realities of parking in Bengaluru,” Reddy said.In his letter, Reddy supported the need to regulate roadside parking in Bengaluru but asked the government to review the proposed annual charges in view of the financial strain on many families and the lack of parking space in several residential areas.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 25, 2026 11:49 IST