'Keep basement for parking purpose'

BHOPAL: The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued orders for those seeking building permission for commercial complexes to allot basements only for parking, failing which their permission would be cancelled.
"The BMC has issued orders that it is mandatory to keep basement for parking for those who have acquired building permission for commercial complexes failing which the corporation will cancel their respective building permissions and announce these buildings as illegal," BMC commissioner Rajneesh Shrivastava told TOI.
"It is a little difficult for the BMC to act against the existing occupants of basements in commercial complexes across the city as they have acquired a stay either from the high court or the local courts," he said, adding, "We are trying our best to resolve this issue."
In every market of the city, there are at least 10 commercial complexes with basements used for commercial purposes. "The owners normally secure approval for building permission after mentioning parking spaces in the basement but once they start construction work they build small shops here and sell them," BMC additional commissioner Pramod Shukla told TOI.
"The issue was raised three years ago when the then urban administration minister called for a survey of such buildings and asked the corporation to take action. However, nothing moved further," he added.