Parking facility under scrutiny as car showroom books entire floor at Bengaluru’s Gandhi Bazaar

Bengaluru: The newly inaugurated multi-level car parking (MLCP) complex at Gandhi Bazaar might be turning into a parking lot for luxury cars from nearby showrooms in Basavanagudi, with an automobile retailer claiming it has booked an entire floor on a monthly basis.

The parking complex, inaugurated by deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on May 1, can accommodate around 120 cars. However, visitors to the complex have observed many luxury cars from a nearby showroom parked there, raising concerns over the availability of space for the general public. Some vehicles were even parked haphazardly, occupying two slots.

A user took to X and posted photographs of luxury cars parked in the parking complex. “Public parking purpose defeated. Many vehicles entering for parking had to return as no slots were free, even though the LED board showed ~90 available,” the user posted, requesting authorities to look into the matter.

When contacted, the showroom staff told TOI that they had taken an entire floor (24 parking slots) by paying a monthly fee to the parking contractor. “We have been paying for this for two months now. We have also installed a board indicating ‘reserved parking’. However, we saw other cars parked in our slots,” a staff member said, without mentioning the details of the amount paid.

Construction of the MLCP complex started under the Bengaluru Smart City project, and it was later transferred to Bengaluru Central City Corporation. Pradeep Kumar, executive engineer of BCCC’s Chickpet division, said an inspection has been ordered. “I have asked our assistant executive engineer to inspect the MLCP and submit a report. We’ve also issued a show-cause notice to the parking contractor,” he said, adding that the corporation has not approved sub-letting of the parking space.

Kumar told TOI that cars can either be parked every day or continuously for multiple days if the owner has taken a monthly payment plan, which is applicable to individual owners and not companies.

“Response to the recently inaugurated MLCP has not been up to the mark. We will receive more cars as we publicise the new facility. Enforcement by traffic police around the Gandhi Bazaar area has to improve so that car owners feel the need for paid parking,” he added.