JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 : Jammu and Kashmir’s Parking Policy 2026, introduced with the aim of bringing order to the Union Territory’s increasingly congested urban areas, appears to be struggling at the implementation stage, with key mechanisms such as Parking Zones, Parking Management Area Plans (PMAPs) and dedicated Parking Committees yet to become operational in most Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The policy was notified by the Housing and Urban Development Department on January 22, 2026, with an ambitious objective: to create a structured parking system, improve traffic management, encourage public transport and walking, and reduce dependence on private vehicles.
However, months after its notification, the gap between the policy framework and ground-level implementation remains significant.
Parking Zones Yet to Be Identified
The policy provides for dividing urban areas into three categories—PZone 1, PZone 2 and PZone 3—based on factors such as land use, footfall, parking demand and availability of alternative transport.
PZone 1 covers high-footfall commercial and mixed-use areas, while PZone 2 includes moderately developed mixed-use and residential areas. PZone 3 is intended for sparsely developed areas, city outskirts and locations with comparatively low footfall.
Each zone is expected to have different parking regulations, pricing structures and management provisions.
However, according to sources, these zones have not been properly identified and notified in most ULBs, leaving the proposed area-specific parking regime largely unimplemented.
PMAPs Remain a Major Missing Link
Another crucial component of the policy is the Parking Management Area Plan (PMAP).
The PMAP is intended to provide a detailed blueprint for managing parking at the local level, covering on-street and off-street parking, multi-level facilities, vending zones, pedestrian circulation, traffic movement, green spaces, signage, pricing and multimodal integration.
Without these plans, authorities face difficulty determining where parking should be provided, how spaces should be managed and how surrounding traffic and pedestrian movement should be regulated.
Parking Committees Yet to Become Functional
The policy also envisages dedicated Parking Committees at Municipal Corporation and ULB levels.
These committees are supposed to:
- Notify parking zones
- Approve PMAP boundaries and plans
- Coordinate between various departments
- Review parking charges and licence fees
- Monitor parking service providers
- Decide penalties for violations
Yet, sources said such committees have not been constituted in most ULBs even several months after the policy came into force.
Policy Identifies the Problems—But Implementation Lags
Ironically, the Parking Policy itself identifies many of the problems currently visible on J&K’s roads, including shortage of parking spaces in core areas, rising demand in commercial zones, inadequate IT systems, poor pedestrian infrastructure and weak enforcement.
It also acknowledges that vehicles are frequently parked haphazardly along roadsides and footpaths, obstructing pedestrians and contributing to traffic bottlenecks.
Standards Still Await Ground-Level Enforcement
The policy requires parking facilities to conform to standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards, National Building Code of India, Indian Roads Congress and accessibility guidelines for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.
However, with the basic institutional and planning framework yet to be fully operationalised, these provisions largely remain on paper.
Technology-Driven Parking System Still a Distant Goal
The policy envisages a modern and technology-driven parking management system that can bring greater efficiency and accountability to urban parking.
But until parking zones are notified, PMAPs prepared and Parking Committees made functional, the ambitious framework is unlikely to deliver visible improvements for motorists and pedestrians.
For now, the situation presents a stark contrast: a comprehensive parking policy exists on paper, while parking chaos continues on the ground across J&K’s urban centres.
