Vroom of one’s own

Just a decade ago , builders in Ahmedabad used to offer one car parking for even 3BHK flats . With increasing number of four wheelers , parking spaces have become a key feature to market any residential project as demand for parking places in residential and commercial buildings has gone up significantly . Even buyers of 2BHK flats are demanding space to park more than one car .Builders are also coming up with novel concepts like mechanised and multi-level parking spaces to attract customers .
Forget highend schemes , real-estate developers have started to offer space to park two cars for 2BHK flats over the past five years . Luxury apartment schemes of four to six BHK forced developers to adopt novel concept of parking to attract high-end customers . Around three decades ago , builder Amrut Patel tried to introduce terrace parking at his scheme on crowded Relief Road . Ahead of his times , the plan was rejected by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). A few years ago , AMC constructed a multi-level parking for cars and two wheelers on pay and park basis . City-based developers know the necessity of more space for parking which resulted into fresh ideas to accommodate more vehicles in limited available space . "Of the total constructed area , 30 per cent parking space is compulsory in commercial buildings and 15 per cent in residential as per the post-earthquake by-laws ," says Vijay Shah founder secretary of Confederation of Real Estate Developers ’ Association of India (CREDAI), Gujarat chapter .
"In commercial buildings , builders are going for multi-level basement parking . But now residential projects are also designed with basement parking to accommodate more number of cars ," says Shah . Sources say builders can not charge extra from customers for parking space as per Supreme Court verdict . However , practically customers are paying for parking space ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakhs in the city in different forms . In some schemes , members trade parking space with mutual understanding . In that case one who buys space would give extra premium to seller .
Jaxay Shah , national vice president of CREDAI, who came up with multi-level parking facilities in a residential scheme at Motera , says that there is a need for clear guidelines on parking policy . "Authorities should encourage vertical parking facilities to address the issue," he adds .
Developer Ashish Shah plans to give electronic cards to each flat owner of his upcoming 7BHK high-end scheme . "Entry of cars in the basement parking would be possible only after punching the card . Besides, each corner of the parking will be covered by CCTV cameras ," says Shah .
In a number of upcoming schemes starting from Rs 20 lakh , builders are offering two allotted car parking per single housing unit , says Shekher Patel , former president of Gujarat Institute of Housing and Estate Developers (GIHED). A five-star hotel on Ashram Road installed mechanised car parking besides two level basement car parking , which created space for additional 20 cars .
The concept of giving basement parking beneath common plot areas have been adopted apart from ground level and basement parking , says developer Rajesh Brahmbhatt . It’s not all about vehicle of residents of housing scheme , there should be provision for visitors also , says builder N K Patel .
Patel is introducing podium level parking in his upcoming high-end residential scheme on SG Road . He is offering 80 car parking spaces for 20 units of 4 BHK. Builders like G D Agarwal have planned six parking lots per unit for his high-end scheme behind Rajpath Club. Rishabh Patel , vice president of GIHED, says that land prices are going up , allotting more space for parking would not be commercially viable for developers . The option is clubbing mechanised parking with two-level basement parking , that way car parking space can be doubled. Yogesh Bhavsar , secretary of CREDAI, Gujarat chapter , says that assurance fee charged by civic authorities only increases the cost of project and ultimately discourages builder to go for additional parking facilities .