Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has announced a new opportunity for residents to legalize their illegal constructions. However, this time, strict conditions have been introduced, requiring 25% of the total built-up area to be allocated for parking. Unlike the previous scheme, which allowed legalization without parking provisions, the BJP government has introduced this amendment to address urban planning challenges.

New Policy Highlights

Mandatory Parking Space: Constructions can only be legalized if 25% of the total area is designated for parking or can be cleared for the same.

No Exemptions: Unlike earlier, constructions without any parking space will not be considered for legalization.

Issues with Previous Policy

Officials noted that the previous Congress-led government had legalized structures without parking, collecting fines with a promise to create parking spaces. However, over the past five years, no district managed to acquire land for parking despite significant revenue generation. This led to urban congestion and inadequate parking facilities.

Previous Legalization Drive

Applications Received: During the Congress regime, over 18,000 applications for legalizing illegal constructions were submitted in Raipur alone, with an average of 5,000 applications per district statewide. Revenue Generated: A fine of ₹2 lakh per car parking space was collected, amounting to nearly ₹100 crore. Committee Oversight: District-level committees, headed by collectors, were responsible for approving applications—a process that will be retained in the new policy.

Utilization of Parking Fines

The revenue collected as fines for parking violations in the earlier drive will now be transferred to municipal corporations. These funds will be used to purchase land in areas where parking spaces are critically needed. Officials confirmed that land acquisition for parking will commence once the funds are allocated.

Cabinet Approval for New Policy

Housing and Environment Minister O.P. Chaudhary confirmed that the new policy has been approved by the state cabinet. Legalization under the updated framework will commence soon, with a focus on addressing urban parking issues. The government aims to strike a balance between urban development and addressing the parking crisis with this revised policy, ensuring that future constructions adhere to proper planning norms.