Bengaluru Traffic Police propose paid parking at tech parks to ease ORR congestion

City police suggest pay-and-park systems and shared mobility plans for IT corridors, aiming to cut vehicle load and reduce congestion along ORR.

In an effort to address the severe traffic congestion along Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR), the city’s Traffic Police have put forward a proposal urging major tech parks and large private companies to introduce pay-and-park systems within their campuses. Officials believe that charging employees for parking could significantly discourage the use of personal vehicles, especially single-occupant cars, and potentially reduce traffic volume in the corridor by up to 30 per cent.

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The suggestion emerged during a high-level meeting that brought together senior government officials, top police officers, and industry representatives, including Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Yulu Co-founder RK Misra. The proposal is part of a broader strategy to manage the growing traffic pressure on the ORR, which is home to some of the largest technology companies in the country.

Officials pointed out that Bengaluru registers around 3,000 new vehicles every day, adding to the already strained road network. According to the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), a large portion of IT employees rely on personal cars because tech companies offer free parking, making driving the most convenient choice. Police estimate that introducing a parking fee could encourage at least 10% of employees to shift to public or shared transport, which could then cut overall congestion by nearly a third.

However, the idea of paid parking was not universally welcomed. During the meeting, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw reportedly argued that a congestion tax might be a more effective tool than parking fees, suggesting that a direct levy on heavily used roads could target the problem more precisely.

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Alongside the parking proposal, authorities also discussed coordinated efforts with the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and other mobility agencies to develop shared bus services for IT employees. These services would include route planning based on employee commuting patterns and the introduction of bus stops inside tech parks to improve accessibility.

Further consultations are expected as stakeholders evaluate the feasibility and impact of the proposed measures.