New Delhi: Like many of the erstwhile MCD’s ambitious parking projects, the stack parking on Sat Bhirawan Road, Karol Bagh, has also missed several deadlines. The project, which was sanctioned in 2009, is yet to be made operational. MCD had also planned a multilevel automated parking under PPP model at Shastri Park in Karol Bagh but it never took off due to poor response from bidders.
Despite collecting Rs 29 crore from traders as parking charges, North Corporation, created after the MCD trifurcation in April, has not been able to create new parking space in the market. “Over the years, the footfall in the Karol Bagh market has increased manifolds, but the corporation has done little to address the parking problem. The stack parking was to be completed before the Commonwealth Games but it is yet to be made operational,” said Lovleen Kumar, who owns a guesthouse.
Kumar claims the project is not feasible. “The parking lot has been constructed on the road. This will block traffic movement. The corporation planned this project in a hurry.”
Officials say the Rs 80-lakh project got delayed as it was challenged by a trader in the Delhi high court. But sources say the matter was resolved in August 2010. “After the court case, the project was put on hold due to Commonwealth Games. The construction work started in December 2010,” said an official. The parking, which has space for 90 cars, was to be completed within six months but the project got stuck in bureaucratic process. Similarly, the proposed parking near Jessa Ram Hospital is yet to be tendered.
While shoppers and traders complain about parking problems, the corporation has done little to identify new space. The corporation has seven authorized parking sites. Illegal parking is happening on all arterial roads. “They overcharge people and block the entire road as cars are parked in double lanes,” said Murli Mani, president of Karol Bagh Traders’ Association.
According to Yogender Chandolia, chairman, standing committee, North Corporation, “The stack parking was planned for the Commonwealth Games. But we could not start the project due to legal issues. We hope to complete it by early next year. As for Shastri Park, we will again float tenders. We are also going to identify new surface-level parking sites.”
Despite collecting Rs 29 crore from traders as parking charges, North Corporation, created after the MCD trifurcation in April, has not been able to create new parking space in the market. “Over the years, the footfall in the Karol Bagh market has increased manifolds, but the corporation has done little to address the parking problem. The stack parking was to be completed before the Commonwealth Games but it is yet to be made operational,” said Lovleen Kumar, who owns a guesthouse.
Kumar claims the project is not feasible. “The parking lot has been constructed on the road. This will block traffic movement. The corporation planned this project in a hurry.”
Officials say the Rs 80-lakh project got delayed as it was challenged by a trader in the Delhi high court. But sources say the matter was resolved in August 2010. “After the court case, the project was put on hold due to Commonwealth Games. The construction work started in December 2010,” said an official. The parking, which has space for 90 cars, was to be completed within six months but the project got stuck in bureaucratic process. Similarly, the proposed parking near Jessa Ram Hospital is yet to be tendered.
While shoppers and traders complain about parking problems, the corporation has done little to identify new space. The corporation has seven authorized parking sites. Illegal parking is happening on all arterial roads. “They overcharge people and block the entire road as cars are parked in double lanes,” said Murli Mani, president of Karol Bagh Traders’ Association.
According to Yogender Chandolia, chairman, standing committee, North Corporation, “The stack parking was planned for the Commonwealth Games. But we could not start the project due to legal issues. We hope to complete it by early next year. As for Shastri Park, we will again float tenders. We are also going to identify new surface-level parking sites.”
Source: TOI (11 Dec, 2012)
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