- The Blue Area plaza can hold more than 1,200 vehicles and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Parking is free for the first few days; after that it costs Rs100 per car and Rs50 per motorcycle.
- The first 20 minutes of parking are free, and fees are collected at exit, with digital receipts and cashless payment available.
- A rooftop restaurant is planned, and several commercial shops in the plaza have already been auctioned.
Islamabad's first modern digital parking plaza in Blue Area is now fully operational, with space for more than 1,200 vehicles. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) says it will serve motorists round the clock.
The facility is being presented as an important step towards introducing modern digital parking facilities in the federal capital.
Open all day, every day
According to the CDA, the plaza will stay open 24 hours a day throughout the week. Motorists will therefore be able to use it at any hour.
| Vehicle type | Charge | Free allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Car | Rs100 | First 20 minutes |
| Motorcycle | Rs50 | First 20 minutes |
Charges and payment
Parking will be free for an initial period of a few days. Once that period ends, motorists will pay Rs100 for a car and Rs50 for a motorcycle.
The first 20 minutes of parking will remain free of charge. Fees will be collected when a vehicle leaves the plaza, not on entry.
Digital receipts will be issued to drivers, and the authority has said that cashless and online payment options will be available. The CDA expects this to provide a transparent process for payment of parking charges.
Digital monitoring and security
A digital parking management and monitoring system has been installed at the plaza. The CDA says it will regulate the entry and exit of vehicles and improve security.
The authority expects the monitoring and cashless payment systems to give citizens a modern and secure place to park.
Shops, a rooftop restaurant and the wider problem
A restaurant will be set up on the plaza's rooftop, and the auction of several commercial shops within the building has already been completed.
The opening comes amid persistent complaints about haphazard parking, traffic congestion and a shortage of designated parking in Islamabad's major commercial areas.
Parking will be free for the first few days, after which the Rs100 and Rs50 charges will apply. A restaurant is also due to be set up on the rooftop.
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to park at the Blue Area digital parking plaza?
After an initial free period of a few days, the CDA says cars will be charged Rs100 and motorcycles Rs50. The first 20 minutes of parking remain free.
Is the plaza open 24 hours?
Yes. The CDA says the plaza will operate around the clock throughout the week.
How will motorists pay?
Fees will be collected when vehicles leave the plaza. Digital receipts will be issued, and cashless and online payment options will be available.
Image: Obaid747 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
