Basement parking legalised beyond FAR in Shimla: TCP’s new rules aim to ease traffic chaos
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, Aug 23,
Shimla’s decades-long parking crisis may finally see some relief with the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department issuing a notification to allow building basements to be used exclusively for parking, beyond the permissible Floor Area Ratio (FAR). The reform maybe a crucial intervention in the city’s urban planning, where roadside congestion has worsened in recent years, leaving residents and commuters grappling with daily traffic chaos.
For the first time, homeowners and commercial property owners will be able to regularise or construct basement parking bays within their premises under a structured system. The notification sets out clear criteria depending on plot sizes, while also fixing a fee of Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500 per vehicle slot for approvals. Officials explained that this fee mechanism is intended to discourage indiscriminate roadside parking and encourage creation of organised spaces within residential and commercial establishments.
The rules extend to heritage and green zones of the capital, albeit under strict conditions, making the policy relevant even in older neighbourhoods where space is most constrained. However, the TCP has also issued a word of caution. Any violations, particularly unauthorised basement constructions, may invite penalties of up to Rs 1 lakh, and occupancy certificates will not be issued unless parking norms are strictly adhered to.
This notification marks a significant shift in Shimla’s urban priorities. For decades, basements in the city were often misused for commercial outlets, storage, or even residential units, contributing little to easing the growing vehicular pressure. Now, with nearly 80,000 registered vehicles competing for a limited number of parking slots, the government hopes to reclaim these underutilised spaces for their most pressing requirement.
Urban planners see the decision as more than a regulatory change. It is being described as a structural reform that balances heritage preservation with modern infrastructure demands. If enforced with consistency, the policy could gradually unclog Shimla’s crowded streets and offer much-needed relief to its resident, they added.
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