HMRL launches 'Park Hyderabad' facility at Metro stations

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) has introduced 'Park Hyderabad', a paid Parking facility for two / four wheelers at all the 24 Metro Rail stations between Miyapur - Ameerpet - Nagole stretches of 30 kms.

As per the directions of the State Government to bring in the latest and sophisticated smart parking technologies to Hyderabad city at the Metro Rail stations to provide safety and security for commuters and their vehicles, HMRL finalized bids for development of Integrated Smart Parking Management System (ISPMS) at the 24 Metro Rail stations in 30 km stretch of Miyapur - Ameerpet – Nagole in public private partnership (PPP) mode.

Under the brand name "Park Hyderabad", the Integrated Smart Parking System is based on a comprehensive digital solution, and it will handle the entire gamut of parking issues without much human intervention. It has a citizen mobile App which provides real time information from all the on-street smart parking lots at the Metro stations.

Two wheeler and four wheeler owners/drivers by using their GPS can digitally check the availability of their desired parking lot before they travel to any Metro station. They can simply use their location services on their smartphone and the system would display the available bays to park their vehicles in about 4,000 two wheeler parking bays and 250 four wheeler parking bays at these 24 Metro stations.

The users can book vacant colour coded bay numbers and use their allotted parking bays through either electronic payments or cash payments. The parking facility is open to public from 6 AM to 10.30 PM.

For regular parking, the rates, including GST, will be Rs. 3 per hour for bike and Rs. 8 per hour for cars.

The Park Hyderabad Citizen Mobile App is available on Android & iOS. By using the app, parking slots can be booked for short term parking with a minimum of Rs 5/- for 2 hrs to a maximum of Rs 30/- for the entire day of 15 hrs. For commuters that need to stay for variable time slots of 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, and above 10 hours are also available. Regular commuters could procure a NFC monthly pass from the operator @50% discounted prices which will be valid from Monday to Saturday.

All transactions will be digitalized, ensuring transparency.

Parking violations will be detected both electronically and manually and compliance will be ensured by security personnel of the private licensee under the supervision of Traffic Police.

According to the HMRL, the parking areas at the Metro stations are being aesthetically developed with covered parking shelters) near Metro stations and it will have free Wi-Fi and other facilities. These attractive smart parking lots will be linked to CCTV cameras and to a central Command & Control Centre in future.

Fortum, a Finnish Government owned company, has entered into an agreement with HMRL to establish electric vehicle charging network at Hyderabad Metro Rail stations and to encourage non-polluting electric vehicles in Hyderabad.

Fortum has already established EV charging points at 8 places - Begumpet, Kukatpally, KPHB, Moosapet, Stadium, Tarnaka, Mettuguda and Habsiguda Metro Stations and is charging electric cars free of cost at present. Once tariff rates are made applicable, the cost per KM of travel will be around Rs.2/-. The time for charging a car is 45 minutes to one hour.

Apart from Fortum, Power Grid Corporation of India, a Govt. of India undertaking has also established three charging points at Miyapur and Balanagar Metro stations. Other electric companies are also coming forward to establish EV charging points at Metro stations for electric bikes and electric autos.