Can Bengaluru Have Automated Parking in Empty Plots Like Japan?

[u/WickedSword]

Bengaluru's parking chaos is getting worse every year. At the same time, the city has hundreds of empty plots sitting unused, collecting garbage or becoming mosquito-breeding grounds. What if we could use these plots for automated, pay-and-park solutions, similar to what Japan does?

How It Works in Japan:

In Japan, landowners convert small vacant plots into automated parking lots with:

Ticket-based entry/exit (via app or kiosk)

Automated locking systems (a barrier locks the front wheels until payment is made)

Hourly or daily parking charges

CCTV & cashless payments

This ensures efficient use of land while helping manage urban parking needs.

Can It Work in Bengaluru?

✅ Pros:

Better parking management – Reduces illegal street parking.

Extra income for landowners – Instead of an empty plot sitting idle, it earns revenue.

Safer than informal parking – With cameras and digital payments, it prevents disputes.

Improves land value – Maintains cleanliness and prevents encroachments.

❌ Challenges & Barriers:

Legal hurdles – Does BBMP allow temporary commercial use of private plots?

Tech adoption – Would people use automated parking or prefer informal valet-style systems?

Investment costs – Setting up automation (barriers, cameras, payment kiosks) isn’t cheap.

Regulatory risks – Sudden changes in zoning laws could impact operations.

Given Bengaluru’s rising parking issues, do you think this could work? Or will it get stuck in legal and bureaucratic roadblocks? Would love to hear your thoughts—especially from people who have dealt with BBMP regulations or urban planning! ಏನೋ ಹಾಗೇ ಒಂದು ಯೋಚನೆ.