The Times of India 05.01.2012

Consultant submits multi-level parking plan for Broadway

CHENNAI: The city is finally seeing some movement over the multi-level parking proposal at Broadway.

Sources in the Chennai Corporation said the consultant of the proposed Rs 40-crore project at Broadway terminus, ITRCL Assets and Holdings Limited, has submitted its report to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) for approval.

The multi-level parking facility will cover an area of 3,000 sqm and accommodate 550-660 twowheelers .

Besides Broadway, the corporation has proposed this facility at three other areas - Wallace Garden in Nungambakkam, Broadway Terminus, Panagal Park in TNagar and NSC Bose Road.

"It is expected that the CMDA approval will speed things up," said a senior corporation official adding that the project was delayed as contractors didn't show any interest initially. The civic body liberalized some of the project terms after the even fourth tender got poor response. Now, the contractor will be allowed to use three floors for commercial purposes.

ITRCL will have to pay Rs 81 lakh to the civic body annually for 23 years. The civic body will collect an additional 5% after the first year. ITRCL will have to design, build and operate the automated parking lot before transferring the rights back to the corporation at the end of the concession period.

Sources said four-wheelers will be charged Rs 20 for the first hour and Rs 10 for every additional hour. For two-wheelers , the fee will be Rs 5 per hour. Car owners can get a monthly ticket for Rs 1,500, while for bikers it will cost Rs 500.

Work on the Rs 30-crore parking facility at Wallace Garden in Nungambakkam had already begun by the consortium formed by the Marg Group and Apollo Hospitals. The Nungambakkam parking lot will also have commercial spaces for the contractor, which it has to hand over to the corporation after 18 years.

In case of the Panagal Park facility, the corporation will appoint a consultant for a feasibility survey by the end of this month, while it is preparing a detailed report for the Rs 4-crore NSC Bose parking lot.

"The feasibility report from the consultant will speed-up this project but there are some legal hurdles which is affecting this project. However, the parking lot at the NSC bose will be constructed by the civic body itself ," said an official.