Delhi Civic Body Faces ₹80 Crore Parking Dues as Revenue Falls 26%

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has accumulated more than ₹80 crore in unpaid licence fees and contract dues from parking operators over the past three years, exposing a wider challenge involving municipal revenue collection, contract enforcement and the management of scarce urban space. The disclosure comes as the civic body attempts to overhaul its parking network, re-tender stalled sites and expand parking capacity across high-density parts of the national capital.

The figures were disclosed in response to a short-notice question raised by BJP councillor Hem Chand Goel, a Standing Committee member, during a committee meeting at the Civic Centre. MCD said it holds nearly ₹109 crore in earnest money deposits and advance security amounts from parking operators. Despite these safeguards, contractor defaults have led to notices, security forfeitures and contract cancellations.

MCD reported parking revenue of ₹179.45 crore in 2023-24, rising to ₹186.05 crore in 2024-25 before falling sharply to ₹137.17 crore in 2025-26. Total revenue stood at ₹253.93 crore, ₹275.74 crore and ₹265.58 crore respectively. The ₹48.88-crore, or 26.3%, fall in parking revenue was attributed to contract transitions and disputes over defaults.

The corporation currently has 374 operational parking sites, while 25 expired contracts are under re-tendering and renewal or re-tendering remains stalled at different stages for 155 sites. The network covered by the submitted revenue data comprises 433 surface parking sites and 30 multi-level or mechanical facilities, or 463 facilities in all.

MCD plans to develop 83 new parking sites in high-density and commercial areas. Tenders for 34 have already been issued, with the remaining bidding scheduled for completion by November. Officials have identified commercial nodes and high-traffic corridors for expansion.

The crisis has deeper roots. A CAG audit had previously flagged non-recovery of parking dues and contract-management weaknesses, including ₹8.99 crore pending from 70 cancelled parking licences in the erstwhile North Delhi Municipal Corporation. Delhi’s 2019 parking rules introduced area-based Parking Management Area Plans, but government material shows only four of 17 MCD-area plans had been approved and two implemented.

MCD is now undertaking physical verification and GIS-based mapping of parking sites to curb unauthorised operations and strengthen oversight. The initiative comes amid continuing concerns over overcharging, roadside parking and revenue leakage.

The immediate questions are how much of the ₹80 crore has been recovered, whether repeat defaulters have been prevented from securing contracts, why 155 sites remain stalled, and how effectively parking collections are reconciled with contractor payments.

For Delhi, the issue extends beyond parking fees. It involves municipal revenue, contractor accountability, traffic management and the use of scarce public space. The success of MCD’s expansion will ultimately depend on whether stronger monitoring and enforcement accompany new infrastructure.