AHMEDABAD: The AMC has introduced a tax-incentivized initiative aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the city. This comes after directives from the high court to eliminate roadside parking in front of commercial establishments.
The AMC has already issued notices to 200 prominent businesses, including malls, multiplexes, and luxury hotels, presenting a straightforward opportunity: a 100% exemption from property tax on parking facilities in exchange for making private basement parking accessible to the public.
“The high court has determined that vehicles parked on public roads near commercial complexes fall under the responsibility of the property owners,” stated a senior AMC official.
The mandate also applies to hospitals, private institutions, and places of worship. The AMC’s estate and tax departments have worked together to send notices, instructing property owners to register available parking slots via the ‘Ahmedapark’ app. Citizens can utilize these spaces at no charge.
Establishments are required to comply. They have a 60-day period to register. “Failure to enroll in the app and open their spaces will result in property tax being levied on those parking areas,” warned another senior official.
The implementation has encountered some challenges, particularly from five-star hotels that express concerns about security and liability issues.
One AMC official explained, “The hotels are worried that if someone were to hide a bomb in their facility, they could be held accountable.”
Aside from security, hotel owners are apprehensive about losing parking for their paying guests during busy periods, as opening basements to the public might lead to congestion.
Some luxury hotels have indicated they might prefer to incur the estimated additional tax of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh instead of compromising security or guest satisfaction.
To ease the concerns of property owners, AMC officials are considering more flexible options for utilizing parking spaces. One possibility would allow owners to open only a portion of their available capacity — about 20-30% of the total — through the app, rather than the entire basement.
