What is car parking charges?

Few charges have been fought over in court as often as parking. In Nahalchand Laloochand v. Panchali Co-operative Housing Society (2010), the Supreme Court held that under Maharashtra's flat ownership law, stilt parking is a common area that a builder cannot sell separately. The RERA Act then set a national position. Section 2(y) defines a garage as a place within the project with a roof and walls on three sides for parking, and specifically excludes unenclosed or uncovered parking such as open parking areas. Section 2(n) lists open parking among the common areas.

So builders now sell 'covered parking' as a right to use a slot in the basement or podium, often ₹3 lakh to ₹8 lakh in Pune and Bengaluru and more in Mumbai and Gurugram. Some include one slot in the base price and charge for a second; others charge for every slot. Mechanical stack parking, common in Mumbai redevelopment projects, is cheaper and slower to use, and larger SUVs don't always fit.

Check four things before paying. The slot number and level should be written in the allotment letter and the agreement, not left 'to be allotted at possession'. The slot should suit your car, since many basement bays are sized for hatchbacks. The sanctioned plan should show that space as parking. And if you are buying resale in a Maharashtra cooperative society, parking is allotted by the society's committee, so it passes to you only with the society's approval.

Parking sold with an under-construction flat attracts GST at the flat's rate, and stamp duty is charged on it as part of the agreement value.