The Hindu : Multi-storied parking lots coming

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 26, 2002

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Other States - New Delhi

Multi-storied parking lots coming

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 25. Even though the issue of imposition of "parking charges'' continues to be the bone of contention between the legislative and executive wings of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the decks seem to have been cleared for construction of as many as nine multi-storied parking complexes in the Capital.

These multi-level parking lots in some of the busiest commercial and congested areas of Delhi are likely to solve the acute parking problem to some extent.

Expectedly the congested area in and around the Walled City has been given topmost priority by the MCD policy-makers who have identified five sites for multi-level parking. Still the Congress Councillor from Chandani Chowk, Braj Mohan Sharma, does not find these adequate to solve the parking and congestion problem of the area. "The entire area requires a fresh look and holistic approach need to be given,'' he said. "Once these constructions starts, more sites for the multi-level parking lot would be taken up,'' Mr. Sharma said.

The civic body has identified Dangal Maidan for construction of multi-level underground parking having a capacity of more than a thousand vehicles. But for this, the civic body requires no-objection certificate from the DDA. With the metro station at the ISBT fast coming up, the MCD has identified Nicolson Road at Mori Gate for the construction of two or three level mechanical parking for efficient use of space. Though the road portion is owned by the civic body, here again a NOC from the DDA is required as it is owner of a portion of the land.

The two-km long stretch of Hamilton Road at the back side of Old Delhi railway station is another site where the MCD plans to construct a two-three level mechanical parking. An underground parking lot has also been proposed at busy Asaf Ali Road. "Part of the area is green here. But with an underground parking we can always maintain the greenery here,'' officials said.

Ansari Road in Daryaganj, which is a busy street where almost all the publishers are located, is also one of the nine sites for a multi-level parking. Due to scarcity of space here, the option left before officials is to use the one strip of nullah abutting the Old Fort Wall to provide a multi-level parking for Ansari Road shops. However, the MCD requires clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India because of the proximity of the Old Fort Wall.

Karol Bagh is another busy congested part of the Delhi which requires a similar treatment from the MCD officials. However to begin with the civic body has identified Tibbia College for multi-level parking lot. "There is not much space left for multi-level parking or an underground parking here. We have identified Tibbia College as there are large number of dilapidated buildings on the campus which could be redeveloped in a proper manner,'' officials said. At Shastri Park, MCD has identified 15,000 square metres for developing a multi-level parking.

In South Delhi, MCD is looking for sites at Greater Kailash and Vasant Lok. While there are two plots of 336 sq. metres for multi-level underground parking in Greater Kailash, the MCD has urged the DDA to earmark a parking site at Vasant Lok as the area faces an acute parking problem.

All these parking lots are to be constructed by the private companies and MCD is unlikely to spend any money on this account. For this purpose the civic body has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the IDFC which has been asked to develop the details of the contract for each of the specific site.

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