India, Oct. 25 -- A WhatsApp group once created to plan a party has suddenly become lively as an unlikely survival guide for a few Delhiites. "Over time, it became a space for life updates, then news and eventually traffic updates. Now, we're slowly turning it into a guide to parking spots, cheaper alternatives and the best routes," says a 34-year-old Dwarka resident who drives to Barakhamba Road daily.

With news of parking charges set to double from November 1, he quips, "We'll rely on these groups even more to find the hidden places, or maybe slip our parking guy an extra Rs.100 every week or something to manage the budget."

From November 1, Delhi will double charges at authorised parking sites until February 28, 2027, as part of its ...