The Times of India                   04.03.2013

Jaipur Development Authority plans extension of Ramniwas Bagh underground parking to accommodate 2,500 cars

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) is planning to connect three nearby markets of the city to the Ramniwas Bagh parking by constructing subways.

The move came after directions were made by the empowered committee constituted to develop Jaipur as a world-class city.

"Directions have also been made to propose shops in the subways for auction on either side as this will ensure safety and upkeep the maintenance," a senior official said.

Initially, it is proposed that the subways will be constructed at Sanganeri Gate, Ajmeri Gate and Chaura Rasta after the parking is extended. An official also explained the state government may also launch phase II of RamniwasBagh parking soon by extending the area to accommodate nearly 1,500 more cars. If implemented, the project is set to become the country's largest underground parking with space for 2,500 cars.

The current parking capacity of Ramniwas Bagh is 950 cars. "At present only 500 Walled City residents and shopkeepers can permanently park their four-wheeler vehicles, whereas, the number of vehicles coming to the city is more than two thousands. The expansion will give a major boost to the ongoing efforts for decongestion of roads, especially in the Walled City markets and MI Road that bustle with traffic," the official said.

If everything goes according to plan, the urban development and housing (UDH) department will construct the underground parking parallel to MI Road. An underpass to facilitate the underground traffic is also being considered. "The proposal is under serious consideration. We are looking at the possibilities and if it happens, the parking space will be almost doubled," a senior UDH official said.

Agencies have been asked to make a detailed project report of the plan. The officials are convinced that the project can be conceived and it won't take much time kick off the second phase. "The idea came only after the current parking space was created. There are technical issues involved but the expansion is practical and possible," sources in the department said.

The project will be one-of-its-kind in the country. At present, the biggest public multi-level parking is at Indira Gandhi Airport, New Delhi, which has a parking space for 4,300 cars. But in the five-storey parking only two slots are underground while rest is at or above ground level.