The Draft Development Plan prepared by the Thane Municipal Corporation for the city of Thane clearly shows that parking has become a serious urban problem. The number of vehicles in the city has increased rapidly in recent years. However, the availability of proper parking spaces has not increased at the same pace. As a result, vehicles are often parked on the roadside. This reduces the effective width of roads and slows down traffic movement.
To understand the seriousness of the situation, the Municipal Corporation conducted an On-Street Parking Survey in different parts of the city. The aim of this survey was to measure the demand for parking and identify the areas where parking pressure is the highest.
A key indicator used in the survey is the Parking Index. This index shows how much of the available parking capacity is already being used.
A parking index above 70% indicates very high pressure.
60–70% shows heavy demand.
50–60% indicates moderate pressure.
Below 50% shows comparatively lower pressure, though it still needs monitoring.
Areas Facing Severe Parking Pressure:
The survey shows that some parts of Thane are already close to saturation.
Jambhali Naka – Parking Index: 80%
This area shows the highest parking pressure in the survey. With commercial activity and heavy traffic movement, most parking spaces are already occupied during peak hours.
Kopri Road – Parking Index: 79%
This area also faces very high parking demand. The road is an important connection point in the city, and vehicles parked along the road further reduce the available road space.
Station Road – Parking Index: 72%
This area is close to the railway station and busy market zones. High footfall and commercial activity create serious parking congestion.
Areas with Heavy Parking Demand:
Viviana Mall Road – Parking Index: 60%
Because of the presence of large commercial complexes and shopping activity, parking demand here is already quite high.
Areas with Moderate Parking Pressure:
Talavpali Road – Parking Index: 56%
Pokhran Road No.1 – Parking Index: 56%
Both roads show moderate parking pressure. However, if vehicle numbers continue to increase, these areas may soon face severe congestion.
Court Naka – Parking Index: 54%
Ashram Road – Parking Index: 54%
These areas are important junctions with steady traffic flow. Roadside parking often affects smooth traffic movement.
Areas with Relatively Lower Pressure:
LBS Road – Parking Index: 46%
Though the pressure is slightly lower here, improper roadside parking still affects traffic efficiency.
Tukaram Mahadik Road – Parking Index: 35%
This area currently shows the lowest parking load among the surveyed locations. However, future development and traffic growth may change this situation.
What This Means for Citizens
The survey clearly shows that parking demand in Thane is already high in many areas and rising quickly. When vehicles are parked along roads, traffic becomes slower, congestion increases, and the risk of accidents rises.
The Draft Development Plan suggests that the city must develop new parking facilities, clear parking policies, and possibly involve private participation in building parking infrastructure. Without planned solutions, the parking crisis may become even more serious in the coming years.
For citizens, this is an important reminder that responsible parking and better urban planning are both necessary to keep Thane’s roads functional and safe.
To address the growing parking problem, TMC has taken initial steps. One key initiative is the underground multi-level parking facility at Gaodevi Maidan. The parking is constructed underground while the playground remains on the surface, preserving public space. The facility provides parking for about 120 two-wheelers and 130 four-wheelers.
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