Lucknow, Apr 22 (Reporter) Parking across Uttar Pradesh is set for a major overhaul with the development of smart zones, featuring FASTag integration, electric vehicle (EV) charging points and handheld Point of Sale (POS) devices, official sources said here on Tuesday. Sources said that acting on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directives, the Urban Development Department has drafted a comprehensive plan to modernise parking systems across major cities, aiming to enhance public convenience and improve traffic management. Sources said that preparations are underway to equip parking locations with a suite of modern technologies. "Alongside FASTag compatibility for seamless payment, plans include the installation of EV charging points to cater to the growing number of electric vehicles. Other planned features include automated ticket dispensers, CCTV cameras for security and monitoring, digital signage for information display, boom barriers for controlled access and handheld POS devices for flexible payment options," they said. Sources said that these upgrades will significantly enhance transparency in parking operations. "The integration of technologies like FASTag and automated systems is expected to provide users with faster entry and exit, eliminating the need to wait in queues," they said. Sources said that under the new plan, on-street parking will become costlier, especially during peak hours (9 am–12 pm and 5 pm–8 pm) and on weekends. "Final decisions on rates and timings will be made by the Parking Management Committee," they said. Sources said that a strict action plan has been formulated to tackle unauthorised parking. "Smart systems will be mandatory at all parking sites, old and new, with clear markings for designated areas. Violators will face strict penalties, and encroachments will be promptly removed. The new smart parking system aims to ease parking and reduce urban traffic congestion," they said...////...