Parking woes rampant in city

Private firms backing to invest in multilevel complexes to ease congestion

The indiscipline of the city’s motorists when it comes to parking of vehicles is so intense that it has apparently discouraged private firms from investing in multilevel parking complexes.

The GHMC had recently invited parties to construct and operate a parking complex near Charminar, but received lukewarm response. The civic body then altered the contract criteria but there were still no takers.

Potential investors said commuters park their vehicles on the roads and the enforcement of no-parking rules is not strict. This will turn out to be a loselose situation for investors.

Delhi and Kolkata have multilevel parking complexes, but that too has not clicked, they told the civic body, according to sources.

The GHMC had invited firms to construct parking complexes at Khilwath and Shahalibanda in the Old City. Each multi-level parking was to provide space for 3,000 to 5,000 cars. The GHMC was to provide the space and specify the criteria which includes the structure’s design, number of floors and the set back area.

The contract was for the companies to build operate and transfer the properties at periods ranging between 5 and 10 years.

Asked about the status of the project, a senior officer said, “When the GHMC floated tenders twice for the complexes, hardly any firm responded. The concern by the parties was that when no-parking rules were not enforced strictly, why would anyone pay and park in the complexes,” he told this newspaper.

“The companies were doubtful about the returns as they would have to make huge investments. The companies backed off stating the project would not be economically viable due to various reasons including high land cost,” he said.

There was also proposal to construct parking complexes at Secretariat and in Basheerbagh, Lower Tank Bund with access to Tank Bund through a skyway from the top floor, near the GHMC garbage transfer station at Khairatabad, Sanjeevaiah Park, Jalavihar and New MLA Quarters at Adarshnagar. All of this is, however, only on paper.