Parking Study in M G Road, Kochi

ISSN (Online) 2456 -1304

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020

[1] Greeshma.S, [2] Aleena.Xavier [1] M.Plan (Urban Planning) Student, Dept. of Architecture, TKMCE, Kollam [2] Assistant Professor, Dept. of Architecture, TKMCE, Kollam

Abstract: - Parking is an important part to give concern in the transportation sector of a city. The population is increasing in India and it hit 135 crores in the year 2018 and vehicle population is also increasing which hit 253 million in the year 2018 as per the research conducted by the ’Statista Research Department’. So, it is important to manage these vehicle population since the vehicles are kept idle most of the time somewhere. Globally the parking management dimensions are changing. In India we increase the parking supply according to increasing demand. Since land is a precious resource spending more land on parking is not ideal. Therefore, rather than increasing the supply more management solutions are suggested all over the world. The study focuses on parking issues and existing parking conditions as well as drawbacks of one of the very busy stretch of Kochi city i.e. M G road. M G road was identified as the stretch with maximum parking demand and the stretch with maximum parking issues in Kochi Masterplan 2031. The stretch always faces problems related to parking as well as congestion. Both the sides of the stretch carry a large number of branded as well as local shops. And the regulations implemented here after the commencement of metro has created a lot of impacts in transportation as well as the commercial sector of the area. The study is an attempt to analyze the existing problems, and to suggest some general solutions.

Key words— Parking, Parking management.

I. INTRODUCTION and the growth is concentrated in cities as the cities are attractive in nature. It is important to find space for each Parkingis an essential component of the transportation vehicle getting into an urban area. It is important to manage system. Vehicles must park at every destination. A typical the parking areas since the parked vehicles cause various automobile is parked 23 hours each day, and uses several problems in a city’s growth. Providing space for each vehicle parking spaces each week. Parking convenience affects the in a city is practically impossible. Therefore, management of ease of reaching destinations and therefore affects overall the parking areas available are important. Parked vehicles accessibility. Parking facilities are a major cost to society, along the roads causes hindrance to the vehicles moving as and parking conflicts are among the most common problems well as to the pedestrians. On street parking areas are facing designers, operators, planners and other officials. Such properly demarcated in many of the countries. But as far as problems can be often defined either in terms of supply or in India is concerned on street parking areas are poorly terms of management. Management solutions tend to be managed causing more problems to the passengers. The better than expanding supply because they support more strategic planning objectives.(1) traffic congestion created makes the city less attractive since the passengers will have to spend a lot of time in this. The II. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY accidents caused due to this also creates a risky image for the users. (2) As the population increases vehicle population also increases. Land is a precious resource and it is limited too. Each vehicle which is manufactured has to be parked Expanding the supply of parking according to the increasing somewhere and it consumes land. Land is a limited resource vehicle demand is indirectly depleting the land resource. The and wasting land for parking vehicles is a major concern. Globally the strategies has been changed more towards land which is wasted for parking can be used for different management approaches rather than expanding the parking purposes. Parking generates a less revenue when compared to space. the other activities that can be carried out in the specific area. III. PARKING MANAGEMENT AND ITS Therefore, spending too much land on this creates shortage of IMPORTANCE income. A city that spends its land too much on parking attracts Since parking is a major concern in transportation sector of less people. It gradually affects the beauty of the city. It a city, parking management is an important area to give makes people or users uncomfortable in engaging in different concern. Vehicle population shows an uncontrollable growth

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 activities happening in the cities. Vehicles emits more V. KERALA SCENARIO greenhouse gases while they are in a traffic congested area The number of vehicles per 1000 population for Kerala in which creates pollution.(1) March 2016 is 305.The total number of privately-registered In order to avoid these problems, it is important to manage cars in the state rose to 2.15 lakhs in 2017 as compared to the parking areas providing management solutions. Since 1.89 lakhs registered in 2016. The number of two-wheelers India being a highly populated area and its population is has grown from 6.05 lakh in 2016 to 6.6 lakh in 2017. The concentrated on cities, it is important to manage tha parking highest vehicle population was recorded in Ernakulum areas to facilitate easy flow of traffic. district with 15, 59,270 vehicles (15.37 percent) followed by Thiruvananthapuram with 12, 90,592 (12.69 percent). IV. PARKING SCENARIO IN INDIA Explosive growth in the number of automobiles escalates parking demand causing footpaths and open spaces being swallowed by parking. The India State of the Environment Report, 2001, brings the following figures to our attention: the total road network has increased only 8 times from 0.4 million kilometres in 1950-51 to 3.3 million kilometres in1995-96. The slow growth of road infrastructure and high Figure 2 Increasing trend of vehicular population in Kerala growth of transport performance and number of vehicles all imply that Indian roads are reaching a saturation point in From the study conducted by the MOUD on on-street utilising the existing capacities.In India increase in urban parking some conclusions were made. 30 countries were growth is accompanied by the growth in private vehicle studied in terms of the road characteristics. ownership.(3) Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi were the two cities selected Explosive growth in the number of automobiles escalates for the study. Kochi was found to be using around 58% of parking demand causing footpaths and open spaces being roads on parking purpose. The highest vehicle population swallowed by parking. Increasing the number of parking lots was recorded in Ernakulum district with 15, 59,270 vehicles and reduction in parking charges to keep up with the rising (15.37 percent) followed by Thiruvananthapuram with 12, demand does notsolve the problem. In India it is 13 cars per 90,592 (12.69 percent).(4) 1000 population. With such a smaller number of cars per 1000 population we are facing a tremendous issue related to the parking of these cars. Increase in urban growth is accompanied by the growth in private vehicles.The total road network has increased 8 times from 0.4 million kilometres in 1950 to 3.3 million kilometres in 1995. The gradual growth of road infrastructure and high growth of transport performance and number of vehicles all shows that theIndian roads are reaching a saturation point. Figure 3 Percentage of roads used for on street parking in Indian cities

Figure 1 increasing trend of vehicular population in India Figure 4 parking index of Indian cities

Approximately 40% of the roads in urban India are taken The parking index of the thirty cities were found and were up for just parking the cars. People from low income group compared. Kochi shows a poor parking index which were nowadays own cars. The number of families with cars has calculated according to the physical parameters of the roads become much more than what the country is able to manage. of the cities.So, considering the study conducted by MOUD, The usage of private transport has increased. (3) in Kerala, the most severe parking issues are found in Kochi city. Since Kochi is a region which faces issues in transportation sector which is caused due to the traffic

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 congestion. The traffic congestion during the peak hours are comes around 1.2 km stretch. Since M G Road is a very high in many of the important roads. The town planning commercial hub, the shoppers prefer to park their vehicles department in Kochi city region has prepared a masterplan near to the shops. Therefore, the preferable walking distance for the year 2031 in which they had identified 5 major severe is taken as 100 m and 100 m from the stretch to both left and stretches.(5) They are listed in the table below. right side is taken as the study area. On the north side the stretch connects to the Banerjee road and to the south it connects to the ground junction. A road lies parallel to the M G Road, Chittoor road which ideally reduces the congestion observed in the M G Road. The major junctions in between the stretch area Padma Junction and Shenoys junction. The stretch along M G road is highly commercialised region of Cochin Corporation. The nearest metro stations area town hall metro station and south metro station. A parallel railway runs at about 400 m Figure 5 severe stretches and the parking parameters which .The townhall metro station is 500 m from the M G Road were identified by Town planning department metro station and the south railway station is 500 m from the Of the 6 stretches identified M G road shows the maximum Maharajas metro station. K S R T C bus station is also nearby demand as well maximum space hours. So the stud area was which can be accessed from Shenoys junction. On the north focussed toM G road. side lies Banerji road and at the south hospital road. On the north side the major junction is Madhava Pharmacy Junction and on the south side it is KPCC junction. M G road was a VI.STUDY AREA: M G ROAD, KOCHI market place for retail purchases, now although it bears a wide range of shops the shopping activities along the stretch Mahatma Gandhi Road, popularly known as M. G. Road, is has been decreased due to the influence of Kochi metro the main artery as well as the commercial street of the city of Kochi. The part of the stretch which is taken for study extends from the Madhava Pharmacy junction to KPCC junction. This part of stretch had undergone changes due to the commencement of metro as per the primary observation survey. Apart from that this particular 1,2 km stretch has the major shopping areas and commercial buildings which is highly commercialised. And one Metro station located here has no parking facilities arranged

Figure 7 Connectivity of the area and the map showing important junctions

Presently the selected stretch is a one way stretch and one of the major roads which connects the M G road and the KSRTC bus station cannot be accessed by the buses now. Figure 6 Regional setting of the study area The buses are not allowed to pass through the stretch.

The road lies north-south with its boundaries at VII. EXISTING PARKING SITUATION IN THE the Venduruthy bridge, Thevara in the south, and STUDY AREA the Madhava Pharmacy Junction in the north, where it There are no on street parking lots in the stretch. Some off- intersects the Banerji road. Several top companies have their street parking sites are located in the vicinity which is paid. offices in this stretch and most of the banks in India The pay and park sites are owned by both the government as maintains their regional offices or main branches in this road. well as private owners. Almost all the branded shops in the The stretch also houses more than a dozen premium hotels as area have parking areas within their buildings. But the well as several famed jewellery brands.The study area is the expanded buildings have not extended the parking areas. The stretch of M G Road which is aligned along the metro lane. It

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 situation is in such a way that the buildings does not have noted to suggest solutions. The solutions are taken from space to provide enough parking space. The small retail different best practices across the globe. shops lack parking spaces. Therefore, the shoppers should The stretch was divided into three zones for the find a space themselves to park the vehicles. A large parking convenience of study purpose. Zone 1 extends from Madhava area is owned by Seematti which is one of the most famous pharmacy junction to Padma junction, Zone 2 from Padma textile shops. Their parking spaces on a total have the junction to Shenoys junction and Zone 3 from Shenoys capacity to carry around 300 cars. But the spaces are junction to KPCC junction. The activities are classified into provided only for the customers of the respective shop. The long duration activities such as short duration activities stretch is a no parking zone and the parked vehicles are where the vehicles are parked longer for long term activities penalized by the authorities. The off-street parking sites are and vehicles are parked for short period of time for short term located a little inwards from the road which is not noticeable activities. The hotels as well as hospitals serve long term by the customers. Since the shoppers always prefer shortest activities. The vehicles of the patients as well as the vehicles walking distance, they try parking their vehicles near to the of the customers to the hotel are to be parked shops. Metro lane passes through the road and the study area ZONE 1 was delineated between the two metro stations. Kochi metro has parking areas on M G road metro station. Presently the The zone 1 extends from Madhava Pharmacy junction to parking problem is managed by the parking areas allotted by Padma junction. the corporation as well as the parking areas allotted by the Kochi Metro. LAND USE M G Road is a highly commercialized area with lots of shops across the stretch. A number of branded shops are located in the area. the area was a major market area before where people came for their local purchases. Other than the branded shops many local retailers are also there. Around 73 Figure 8 Location of hospitals, banks and hotels shops are located along the selected stretch. The 2031 masterplan of Kochi city propose the area as a commercial hub and city center. CONNECTIVITY The stretch extends from Maharajas metro station to M Groad metro station. The length of the stretch is 1.2 km. The nearest metro stations area town hall metro station and south metro station. A parallel railway runs at about 400 m. The townhall metro station is 500 m from the M G Road metro Figure 9 location of major shops and restaurants station and the south railway station is 500 m from the Maharajas metro station. K S R T C bus station is also nearby In this zone most of the shops own their own parking space. which can be accessed from Shenoys junction. On the north On the north side Seematti is located which has a parking side lies Banerji road and at the south hospital road. On the space for around 300 cars. These parking spaces are utilised north side the major junction is Madhava Pharmacy Junction only by the customers of Seematti. Apart from this Kochi and on the south side it is KPCC junction. M G road was a metro has its parking space which is used by the employees market place for retail purchases. of KMRL as well as by the metro users. The parking charges The study starts by reviewing the parking scenario at the are free for the employees, 30 for cars and 20 for two national level and state level. Following that the study area wheelers. And if there are daily users, monthly an amount is was studied conducting a primary reconnaissance survey in fixed on 25 % discount of the actual cost. At this zone order to understand the existing parking situation which parking problems are comparatively less since majority are includes how parking areas are distributed in the area. A branded shops. on the south side Padma theatre is located and parking survey is also conducted to find out the parking it has underground parking space for two wheelers and 30 characteristics in existing parking areas in the study area. In slots for cars. During the showtimes congestion is created. order to study the issues in the area, the stretch was divided The problem is for the small-scale retailers. Seasonal rush is into three zones based on the activities that undergo in the observed in this zone since Seematti and Chennai silks are three zones. The issues are analysed and the key issues are

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 located here. But the parking areas are more than enough for college is also located nearby. Here the metro station lacks the two shops parking spaces which leads to parking vehicles in footpaths, frontages etc. ZONE 2 VIII. MAJOR PARKING PROBLEMS IN THE AREA The presence of commercial shops, theatres, and many public buildings create a heavy vehicular flow as well as pedestrian flow into the stretch. The vehicles are parked in the road near to the shops which create congestion as well as it causes hindrance to the pedestrians.

Figure 10 location of hospitals, banks, hotels and major shops

Figure 11 location of restaurants Figure 14 Vehicles parked on the roads Zone two extends from Padma junction to Shenoys junction. After the commencement of Kochi metro, the people started Centre square mall is the most important building which has using the metro and as a result the small retailers in the area a parking space for 350 cars and 200 two wheelers which is were affected. Earlier people travelled through the stretch and located underground. Just opposite to the mall a corporation window shopping was the major activity which generated owned parking space is located which uses the frontage of income for the small retailers there. People come in search of various shops branded shops and since the branded shops have parking ZONE 3 spaces this will not affect the large retailers. Small retailers since they lack parking spaces, people find it difficult to access the small retail shops. Since the area is commercial both week days as well as the holidays are engaged here. The parking spaces are almost full for all the time. Most of the parkers are long term parkers which are employees of the different shops located in the area. short term parkers are unable to use the spaces. As a Figure 12 location of major shops, hospitals, banks and hotels result, the small retailers are badly affected. Penalty were given to the parkers who use the road for parking. But gradually that stopped and the users started parking their vehicles in the roads creating congestion. The heavy vehicles are not allowed to enter into the stretch and the loading and unloading activities of the shops are affected. Large shops since they possess their own parking space they are not affected and the small retailers carry their loads manually into their respective shops.

Figure 13Location of restaurants IX. AVAILABLE PARKING AREAS Zone 3 has the maximum number of small-scale retailers and Parking areas are available within buildings and are also this zone has severe parking issues such as the vehicles are available as pay and park sites. There are four pay and park parked on the roads, the shops face decline in their business sites in the area which is located in the map. The four parking since people find it difficult to park the vehicles. Maharajas sites are occupied mainly by the employees of the area which

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 are mostly long-term parkers. Three of the parking areas are PARKING ACCUMULATION owned by the corporation. Seematti has a larger parking spaces in the area. Grand mall also has a larger parking space. But both are customised for the shoppers who come to their respective shops.

Figure 16 Parking accumulation of the four parking sites

PEAK PARKING TIME Peak parking time was observed as 5 to 5 30 from the surveys conducted in the available lots. PARKING DURATION The parking duration is more in the parking sites which is located inwards. The parking site which is available at the Figure 15 Location of the parking sites side of the road attracts short term parkers and they are mostly two wheelers. The long-term parking duration is Parking lot 1 is owned by KMRL which provides parking observed as 3 hours and the short-term duration is observed space for all the metro users as well as the other users. The as less than one hour. long-term parked vehicles are more. The users are mainly the employees of metro. A total of 10 parking lots are reserved PARKING DEMAND for nearby commercial shops. P2 is a Private owned car Parking demand is observed maximum in the fourth parking parking space. A parking charge of 20 is collected for the site which is located at the side of the road. The demand is first hour and 10 for each one hour after that. Long term fully satisfying when the four parking sites ae analysed but parking is observed. Major users are employees of shops. the actual demand cannot be described analytically. Because Parking lot 3 is also a private owned parking area. Long term the parking issues are persisting in the area. the vehicles vehicles are parked more. Metro users from the Maharajas parked at the roads demand for more parking supply or it metro station are parked here. Only on street parking space should be managed in the available spaces available. Parking lots are not demarcated. The vehicles are parked at the frontage of shops. Short term vehicles are more. Two wheelers are the major category of vehicles parked here PARKING CHARACTERISTICS OBTAINED MAJOR PARKNG GENERATORS The major parking generators are the commercial shops. Apart from this a number of banks are also located in the area, four theatres are also located in the area. The employees are the major parkers of this area.

Figure 17 Parking characteristics of the four existing parking sites FINDINGS Most of the shops does not own parking spaces. The shops that has parking spaces are branded shops which people come

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 in search off. Small shops show a decline in their sales after the commencement of metro service. The customers face REFERENCES difficultyin parking their vehicles. The loading and unloading 1. Aneez, Z. (2010). Parking Space in Kochi: Issues and activities are prohibited in the stretch so the loads are carried solutions. Kochi: Centre for Public Policy Research. by them to the shops by hand. People prefer to park near the 2. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, U. N. (2018). pampering shops rather than in off street parking sites. Large parking cities. Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment. spaces in the area are owned by private owners by private 3. Development, M. o. (2010). study of traffic and shops. These parking spaces are not properly utilised. All the transportation, policies and strategies. wilbur smith available parking spaces are not properly demarcated. associates. SUGGESTIONS 4. Rye, T. (2010). Parking Management: a contribution • The parking spaces which are currently under towards liveable cities. Malden: Federal Ministry of working condition should be properly demarcated Economic Cooperation and Development. and a graded scale of pay has to be fixed. 5. Planning, D. o. (2011). Development Plan for Kochi City • The fourth parking site which is now provided at the Region. Kochi. roadside can be converted to on street parking site demarcating properly • The privately-owned large parking spaces are to be shared for other users since these sites are not occupied all the time. • Loading and unloading facilities has to be provided for the small-scale retailers in the area which can also be facilitated by shared parking • The vehicles that are parked at the roads should be given penalty which should be strictly checked regularly • An online platform can be prepared to show the available parking location near to the shops as well as about the capacity of the parking area • Preferably proposed on street parking areas should possess a higher parking charges in order to discourage the usage of on street parking sites since it causes danger CONCLUSION The study was an attempt to understand the importance of parking management in an urban area through a site-specific study. The major problems, existing situation and analytical methods were used to know about the area. In urban areas as the vehicle population is increasing, parking area management has a greater importance. Policies are prepared for each district nowadays. But an area level management plan plays an important role. Considering India, parking area management is an important part since the population is tremendously increasing. To prepare a guideline for parking management, the area has to studied in detail considering the land uses of that area. M G road is a highly commercialised place which has a greater potential as a city centre. Since people prefer to drive and shop it is essential for a city to manage the parking facilities. If people have to be attracted towards the activities the people should be facilitated with enough provisions. At the same time the regulations are also to be implemented for efficient management of parking areas