The Times of India                  12.03.2013

JMC 'churns' out parking plans despite poor show

JAIPUR: Despite having failed to implement its earlier parking projects successfully in the city, the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has embarked on a new multi-level parking project on JLN Marg.

Two major parking projects out of three proposed in the recent past crashed without taking off, while work for proposed parking near Ashok Nagar continues to move at snail's pace.

However, putting the past behind and looking ahead to a bright start, last week the JMC had invited tenders to appoint consultants to prepare the design of a multi-level parking near World Trade Park, Malviya Nagar. The technical and financial tenders for the project will be opened on April 2 and 8 respectively.

BJP councilor Samunder Singh said, "So far, the parking planning done by the corporation is only paper work. It took at least three years to make change in designs at Ashok Nagar parking. In such a scenario, public money should not be wasted on new projects." He added, "When the JMC failed to construct the Ramleela parking project, it was handed over to the JDA. The corporation should have completed existing project before initiating the new ones."

Three major parking projects worth over Rs 160 crore were inaugurated in the city in April 2011 with an aim to provide parking facilities to around 3,000 vehicles. The three projects are a 2,000-vehicle capacity underground parking at the Ramleela Ground, a 500-vehicle parking at Ashok Marg culvert and another 500-vehicle parking near Panch Batti.

Sources claimed the work order given to the company was cancelled and the project was delayed. Till date, the tender process for Panch Batti has not been completed.

Explaining the reason, why projects were delayed the official said, the company denied taking possession of the parking land as contractors have been demanding that Ramleela Ground and the area near Mall-21, where the parking lots will be built, should be declared as no-parking zones. The demand is aimed at ensuring that contractors gain monopoly in these areas and can thus charge more money from parking.

The JMC refused to fulfil this demand as it was not a part of the terms and conditions mentioned in the tender. The corporation remained adamant that the developers had to work according to the conditions mentioned.