Mumbai plans parking restrictions in congested lanes to ease ambulance and fire movement

Prashant Sharma, President, NAREDCO Maharashtra, and Ashish Majithia, Founder and CEO, Nextkraft Parking Technologies, call for planned infrastructure and mechanised parking solutions

Mumbai, March 31, 2026: Mumbai may introduce parking restrictions in narrow lanes across densely populated areas as authorities look to address growing concerns over obstruction to emergency services.
According to reports, the municipal corporation is preparing measures to regulate parking in congested localities where vehicles parked along narrow streets are affecting the movement of fire engines and ambulances. Implementation is expected in the near term.

Several older and high density areas, including Chandanwadi, Girgaon, Kalbadevi, Gaondevi, Tardeo, Mumbai Central, Nagpada, Agripada, and Byculla, have a large number of narrow lanes. In many of these stretches, road width allows only a single vehicle to pass, with on-street parking creating significant bottlenecks during emergencies.
Commercial hubs such as Kalbadevi and Zaveri Bazaar experience high vehicular activity throughout the day, further intensifying congestion and limiting access during critical situations.

Proposed measures include the introduction of odd even parking systems in select areas and complete no parking zones in others. Authorities are also expected to take stricter action against violations.
Industry experts have emphasised that regulatory steps must be supported by long term infrastructure development to effectively address the issue.

Prashant Sharma, President, NAREDCO Maharashtra, said, “Illegal parking is not merely a compliance issue; it reflects the structural gap between the rapid growth in vehicle ownership and the limited parking infrastructure available in our cities. As urban centres continue to densify, there is a pressing need to integrate well planned and technologically enabled parking solutions within city planning as well as new real estate developments. Adequate parking infrastructure will play a crucial role in ensuring smoother traffic flow and improving overall urban mobility.”

Ashish Majithia, Founder and CEO, Nextkraft Parking Technologies, said, “Mumbai’s parking crisis, especially in older and congested localities, underscores the need for innovative approaches such as automated and multi level parking systems. Automated or mechanised parking should be installed at every public parking spot which can increase capacity and reduce dependence on on street parking, ensuring that critical access routes remain unobstructed. Alongside regulatory measures, adopting vertical parking infrastructure will be key to building safer and more efficient cities.”

While the proposed curbs aim to improve emergency response times, residents and businesses have raised concerns about the availability of alternative parking options. The effectiveness of the measures will depend on both enforcement and the development of sustainable parking infrastructure.

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