Valet-cum-premium services in paid parking, Pink Zones with surveillance for women drivers and reserved zones for EVs and senior citizens are the highlights of “the country's first” upcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based 87 paid parking in Chandigarh. Smart Parking Project Committee chairman Saurabh Joshi said, “After the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation's (MC) nod, the 87 paid parking sites in the city are proposed to be based on AI, for the first time in the country.” The MC General House had on April 30 approved the agenda for smart parking of 87 paid parking sites in Chandigarh with revised rates. The agenda was brought up before the House, which had no opposition, as the 18 councillors of the Congress and the AAP boycotted the meeting. After deliberations, the General House passed the resolution and scrapped the existing request for proposal (RFP). Joshi said the smart parking project would feature real-time availability updates through sensors, cameras and mobile technology. Joshi said, “The project is not just about technology, it’s also about transforming the everyday lives of our residents. Through India’s first AI-driven Smart Parking system under the PPP model. We are setting new benchmarks for citizen-centric urban development.” Joshi said, "The AI-based parking system improves upon traditional methods by adapting in real-time, predicting parking availability, and providing a seamless experience for residents and visitors. It is smart, secure, and sustainable. We are not just solving a civic issue, but we’re upgrading the lifestyle of every Chandigarh resident.” “We are introducing Valet-cum-Premium Services in paid parking for residents, because time and comfort matter. There will be Pink Zones with surveillance and smart lighting to empower and protect women drivers. “Reserved zones for electric vehicles, seniors, people with disabilities, and VIPs, alongside green parking initiatives and air-conditioned staff cabins, ensure comfort and sustainability for everyone,” Joshi stated. Joshi said views and ideas were taken from traders to residents, experts to local associations. “Stakeholders like Beopar Mandal, CRAWFED, FOSWAC, CBC, Laghu Udyog Bharti, and Market Associations contributed greatly to our plan. The committee also reached out to colleges, universities, and youth innovators across the city, because smart solutions come from smart minds, and Chandigarh has plenty of them,” he said. “There are five dedicated sub-committees of the parking committee, which include legal professionals, engineers, finance experts and public engagement leaders, all working toward one goal — making parking in Chandigarh smart, transparent and future-ready,” he said. “These committees worked on every aspect from technical design and legal safeguards to financial modelling and citizen outreach. Their timely input has enabled us to draft an RFP that reflects global standards with local sensibilities,” Joshi added.
