Krishna Byre Gowda says parked vehicles take up 60% of Bengaluru road space

Krishna Byre Gowda said parked vehicles occupy around 60% of Bengaluru’s road space while addressing former mayors at Vidhana Soudha on August 31.

The Greater Bengaluru Development Minister said vehicles are routinely parked on both sides of narrow roads, reducing the space available to moving traffic. Building more roads, he said, will not by itself solve the city’s congestion; Bengaluru needs stronger parking rules and enforcement.

Gowda called for a dedicated agency to regulate parking, saying the existing civic and police workforce is not sufficient for the task. He also pointed to unauthorised alterations to sewer lines and inadequate parking provision in residential buildings as wider civic-rule violations.

For trips of up to two kilometres, he proposed micro-mobility, but said it would require usable footpaths and effective parking controls. His remarks come amid discussion of draft residential parking rules, including a proposed permit fee that has drawn calls for review.

“Unless people develop a sense of self-discipline, it will be impossible to find a solution to Bengaluru’s traffic problem,” Gowda said.