Blue Area visitors oppose parking charges

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has again faced criticism after introducing a Rs100 parking charge in Islamabad’s extended Blue Area, with residents, patients, visitors and traders saying the fee is creating difficulties for people who use the commercial district.

The extended Blue Area was developed as a modern business zone with public-facing facilities including hotels, hospitals, cafés, restaurants and corporate offices. For years, people visiting the area — including families, tourists, office workers and patients — were able to access it without paying for parking.

That situation has changed with the imposition of a Rs100 fee for each visit, a step that has triggered concern among different segments of the public.

Concerns over impact on patients

One of the main objections relates to hospitals and medical centres operating in the area. Patients and those accompanying them are now required to pay parking charges every time they visit. Residents say this is adding to the burden on people who are already dealing with rising healthcare expenses.

For individuals who need regular treatment or repeated consultations, the added parking cost is being seen as an avoidable financial strain.

Businesses report pressure on footfall

Traders and business owners, particularly those running cafés, coffee shops and smaller commercial outlets, have also raised concerns about the effect of the fee on customer traffic.

According to traders, some customers are now hesitant to come to the area for short meetings or casual dining because they consider the parking charges too high. They say the decline in visitor numbers is increasing pressure on businesses that are already contending with higher operating expenses and broader economic uncertainty.

Questions over planning and approvals

Residents have also questioned the CDA’s planning priorities and regulatory oversight in the extended Blue Area. Critics argue that commercial buildings, plazas, hotels and hospitals should have been required to ensure adequate parking space before being granted construction approvals.

They maintain that a number of structures in the area were allowed to begin operations despite not having sufficient parking arrangements, a situation that has now shifted the burden onto visitors through paid parking.

The criticism reflects wider dissatisfaction among those who use the extended Blue Area for medical visits, work, dining and other routine purposes, with opponents of the policy saying the new charge has made access to the district more difficult than before.