Surabaya Digitizes Parking Payments to Boost Tax Accountability

The Surabaya city government, led by Mayor Eri Cahyadi, announced a plan to shift all parking payments to a cash‑free system using prepaid cards such as e‑toll or e‑money. The measure will take effect in early 2026, initially targeting businesses that collect parking tax before extending to street‑side parking.

Digitalization is intended to boost revenue accountability and curb misuse after a QRIS trial proved ineffective for small‑value transactions. The city has partnered with Bank Mandiri to supply equipment, offering either automatic barriers or electronic card payment, and requires both new and existing operators to adopt the system.

The cash‑free system should produce more accurate parking revenue records, enabling transparent distribution among operators, attendants, and the municipality. Non‑compliance by operators or users who refuse digital payment will be penalized with fines.