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A lot of people in India park their cars and bikes outside their home. For this, they do not have to pay any fees or fine to the government. However, things could change soon if you live in Bangalore, Karnataka. We are saying this because recently the Karnataka Government has proposed a new parking policy. Under this policy, residents may be required to pay up to Rs 25,000 every year just to park their vehicles on residential roads. Along with annual residential parking permits, the draft policy has also proposed higher hourly parking charges across the city.

Under the proposed Greater Bengaluru Area (Parking) Rules, 2026, which are currently in the draft stage, the authorities have released it for public feedback. So, if implemented, they will completely change how on-street parking works in Bengaluru by putting a price on using public road space. The expectation is that it will encourage motorists to shift towards organised parking facilities.

The biggest highlight of the proposed rules is the introduction of annual residential parking permits. Under the draft policy, residents parking their vehicles on roads outside their homes may have to pay a yearly fee depending on the type of vehicle.

Owners of small cars could be charged Rs 15,000 per year. Meanwhile, sedan owners may have to pay Rs 20,000 annually. As for SUV owners, they could be asked to pay the highest charge of Rs 25,000 every year. Now, unlike the current system, where roadside residential parking is largely unregulated, this proposal would introduce a structured permit system for vehicles parked on residential roads.

The draft policy has also proposed revised hourly parking charges for vehicles parked on non-residential roads. These charges will vary depending on whether the road falls under Category A, B, or C.

For cars, parking on a Category C road could cost Rs 40 per hour. Meanwhile, Category B roads may charge Rs 60 per hour. Additionally, parking on premium Category A roads would cost Rs 80 per hour. Two-wheelers will also see revised charges ranging from Rs 20 per hour on Category C roads to Rs 40 per hour on Category A roads. The government plans to classify roads based on factors such as traffic movement and commercial importance before implementing the new rates.

In order to encourage motorists to move away from roadside parking, the proposed policy has kept off-street parking charges very low. Cars parked at organised parking facilities could be charged between Rs 20 and Rs 40 per hour. Meanwhile, two-wheelers may pay between Rs 10 and Rs 20 per hour.

Also, those who are opting for monthly parking plans could benefit from lower rates. Monthly off-street parking charges have been proposed to range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 for cars and Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 for two-wheelers, depending on the road category. In addition, motorists using these facilities only during the night between 8 PM and 8 AM could also get a 50 percent discount on the monthly parking fee.

Another major objective of the proposed rules is to discourage vehicles from occupying roadside parking spaces for longer periods. Under the draft policy, parking charges will increase once a vehicle remains parked for more than two hours. Authorities could also introduce different pricing during peak and non-peak hours. This variation between the minimum and maximum rates at a parking facility cannot exceed 50 percent.

It is important to note that these parking charges have not yet come into force. The Urban Development Department issued the draft notification on August 11, and it has invited objections and suggestions from the public for 30 days after its publication in the Gazette.

If the proposal is approved, Bengaluru will witness one of the biggest changes to its parking system. Apart from introducing annual residential parking permits, it will make long-duration roadside parking considerably more expensive. This will encourage motorists to use organised off-street parking facilities instead.