ISLAMABAD: Amid worsening parking problems in the federal capital’s busiest commercial centre, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) have made a modern digital parking plaza in Blue Area fully operational, offering space for more than 1,200 vehicles.
The facility is expected to ease congestion caused by vehicles parked along roads and in commercial areas.
However, the growing number of vehicles and increasing pressure on available parking spaces continue to pose a challenge for the city’s administration.
Facility offers parking for over 1,200 vehicles while charges set at Rs100 for cars and Rs50 for motorcycles after initial free period
According to the CDA, the plaza will remain operational round the clock throughout the week. Parking will initially be free for a few days, after which motorists will be charged Rs100 per car and Rs50 per motorcycle. The first 20 minutes of parking will remain free.
The authority said a digital parking management and monitoring system had been installed to regulate vehicle entry and exit and improve security. Digital receipts will be issued to motorists, while cashless and online payment options will also be available. Parking charges will be collected when vehicles leave the facility.
The plaza is part of efforts to introduce organised parking in Blue Area, where the growing number of commercial establishments, visitors and private vehicles has put additional pressure on existing infrastructure.
The CDA has also said that a restaurant will be established on the rooftop of the building to provide dining and recreational facilities to citizens and visitors.
The auction of several commercial shops in the plaza has already been completed. The opening of the facility comes amid persistent complaints about haphazard parking, traffic congestion and a shortage of designated parking spaces in major commercial areas of Islamabad.
According to a CDA official, while the new plaza is expected to provide some relief, its effectiveness in addressing the wider parking problem will depend on enforcement against roadside parking and the development of similar facilities in other crowded sectors of the capital.
It is relevant to mention that the project is an important step towards introducing modern digital parking facilities in the federal capital. The digital monitoring and cashless payment systems at the Blue Area Parking Plaza are expected to provide citizens with modern and secure parking facilities, along with a transparent process for payment of parking charges.
Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2026
