The Indian Express 04.04.2013
Multi-level parking lot at Sector 17 inches closer to becoming reality
The multi-level parking lot which was to come up in Sector 17 might
finally see the light of day. A decision has been taken for giving
environmental clearance to the project in a meeting held on Wednesday.
Once the project is completed, it would be the first multi-level parking
lot in the area.
The multi-level parking lot was proposed three years ago at the
site of Gurdev parking lot. After the plans were prepared, these were
changed as a three-level basement parking would have disturbed the
foundation of the adjoining shops. Subsequently, the plan was revised
and more distance kept between the shops and the parking lot.
Last year the plans got cleared. However as the tenders were to
be allotted it came to light that environmental clearance would have to
be sought. By that time the two committees that had to give clearance
had completed their term. It was only when the new committees were
notified that the MC could present its case. While one committee had
cleared the proposal earlier, the second one also gave its approval.
An MC official who attended the meeting said that the committee has given its go-ahead, but a written order is awaited.
Once this is received the construction of the three-level parking
lot could be started. The parking lot will be able to accommodate
around 900 vehicles. With Sector 17 witnessing a huge rush of vehicles
everyday, the parking lot is being constructed to decrease the chaos.
Little done by MC on paid parking
The Municipal Corporation continues to be slow on acting on its
own proposals, despite the fact that the condition of parking in the
city remains chaotic.
A decision was taken around six months ago to bring parking lots
in some sectors under the purview of paid parking. However, apart from
passing the buck on the issue, there has been little action that the
concerned departments are taking.
In a meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee held in
September last year, it was decided that parking lots in Sectors 9, 22
and 34 would be converted into paid parking lots. While some parking
lots in these sectors are already under the purview of paid parking, the
others were to be converted.
However, there is little that the civic body has done. Additional
Commissioner Lalit Siwach says that reminders have been sent to the
Engineering Department more than once.
“It is only when the Engineering Department readies the parking
lots by demarcating slots that we can auction these to the contractors,”
said Siwach.
In Sector 22, it was near Shastri Market that the parking lot was
to be brought under the purview of paid parking. In Sectors 9 and 34 a
number of parking lots are already paid.
The areas that are remaining would be demarcated and entry and
exit points identified before the parking lots can be created. These
would then be auctioned and allotted to the contractors.
The civic body’s proposals for parking have mostly failed to take
off. Proposals for a number of multilevel parking lots are either been
hanging fire or have been scrapped.
A proposal for a multilevel parking lot in Sector 17 is in arbitration.
The proposed multilevel parking lots in other sectors like Sector
34, 35 and 9 have failed to see the light of day. Another idea that was
mooted was for making some parking lots fully automated. Even this is
hanging fire with no action taken.