Heavy Traffic On Mumbai Roads, HC Does Not Permit A Family To Own 5 Cars

Due to heavy traffic, the Bombay High Court does not permit a family to have 5 cars .

The Bombay High Court insisted on the need for a systematic parking policy in the city while responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The court also expressed disappointment at the lack of a uniform parking policy in Maharashtra.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni heard the case on Thursday and said the authorities ”should not allow families owning only one flat to have four or five cars if they do not have sufficient parking space” in their respective residences.

The PIL was introduced by a resident and activist from Navi Mumbai, Sandeep Thakur, who challenged the amended Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations Rules. Under this amended law, developers can reduce parking space for cars.

Thakur stated that the reduction in parking spaces in skyscrapers forced residents to park their cars outside their closed and protected societies.

The court noted that the city streets were flooded with vehicles. "A reduction in new car purchases is necessary. You cannot allow a family to have five cars just because they can afford it. You have to check whether or not they have parking spaces." “All streets are flooded with vehicles and parking on both sides is taking 30% of the street space. It's a common phenomenon. There are real public concerns that need to be considered with long-term measures in order to not have a chaotic society. There has to be an established policy, "added the court.