PCMC Pay-and-Park Chaos: Why The System Is Failing

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

Pimpri-Chinchwad, August 2025 — Picture this: you’ve been circling the block for fifteen minutes in Pimpri’s busy market area. Finally, you spot an open space. Relief washes over you — until you see the pay-and-park machine is dead, the QR code is smudged beyond recognition, and the parking attendant? Nowhere in sight. For thousands of PCMC residents, this isn’t just bad luck. It’s an everyday story.

What was supposed to be a smooth, modern parking solution has, for many, turned into a daily headache. Shopkeepers are losing customers, residents can’t find spots near their homes, and tempers are running high.

The Main Problems with PCMC’s New Parking System

Here’s what people are dealing with:

Faulty Tech: Machines that don’t work, buggy mobile apps, and QR codes that look like someone left them out in the rain.
Lack of Manpower: Often, no attendant is present to explain the process or help out.
Poor Management: Overcharging, no receipts, and at times, attendants who treat paying customers like they’re doing them a favour.
Unclear Infrastructure: Parking bays are barely marked, and signage is confusing.

Mr. Ramesh Patil, who owns a small shop in Pimpri, told me, “Customers avoid this area now. My sales are down 20% in just two months because of parking problems.”

Ms. Sunita More from Chinchwad shared, “I’m parking two streets away from my own building because the nearest machine has been broken for weeks.”

How You Can Fight Back: The Citizen’s Toolkit

Here’s how to make your voice heard:

Call PCMC SARATHI Helpline: [Insert Number].
Document Everything: Snap a photo of the faulty machine or bad signage. Note the exact time, date, and place.
Contact Your Ward Officer: PCMC’s website has their details.
Use Social Media: Post photos and your complaint to @PCMCindia on X (Twitter).

What PCMC Says They’re Doing

When I reached out to the Transport Department, a senior official admitted the problems: “We are aware of the technical and operational issues. The contractor has been told to repair faulty machines within 48 hours and to improve staffing.”

On penalties for the contractor, the same official said, “Repeated failure will lead to financial penalties and possibly ending the contract.”

Not the First Time This Has Happened

Back in 2018, a similar parking project fizzled out due to contractor disputes and lack of monitoring. Many residents worry we’re on track to repeat that mistake.

The Road Ahead

If done right, pay-and-park could ease congestion and help businesses. But unless PCMC fixes the tech glitches, tightens contractor oversight, and improves ground-level management, this will remain yet another civic project that promised a lot but delivered little.

In the meantime, we need to keep the pressure on. Document issues, lodge official complaints, and demand transparent updates.

If you’re dealing with this parking mess, tell me your story at puneripages.in@gmail.com. The more voices we raise, the harder it is to ignore.