NDMC to privatise parking

NEW DELHI: The NDMC seems to be adopting the MCD gameplan of getting private players to finance its multi-level parking lots. The civic agency has recently tied up with Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (IDFC) for developing a financial model for its three proposed multi-level parking lots in Connaught Place (CP), Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Sarojini Nagar.
All these projects have been hanging fire for years now due to some snag or the other. Although officials quote reasons like lack of finances or pending clearance from DDA and DUAC for commercial use, sources say the main reason has been the lack of interest to push the projects.
Top NDMC officials say the bid papers for the three projects are ready and will soon be floated for inviting tenders. "Once work starts it will take another 18 months to put the automated parking lots together," said an official. The NDMC proposes to develop these facilities with the help of private parties, who will get commercial space in exchange for building the automated parking lots. Incidentally, the MCD also received bids for its multi-level parking lots in GK-I and South Extension.
"We have received three bids for South Extension and one for GK-I. The response is encouraging since these people are interested in investing about Rs 80 crore in the projects. We have extended the last date of bidding for the Shastri Park, Karol Bagh parking lots till January 20 since there has been a slight change in design," said MCD commissioner Rakesh Mehta.
While parking had become more orderly in places like CP after the introduction of the hourly payment system when measures were initiated to rein in contractors, space still remains a huge issue. The situation is expected to worsen with the opening of the CP Metro station. Estimates suggest that by September 2005, over 45,000 persons will visit the CP Metro station per hour.
DMRC has so far maintained that creating parking space at CP will only increase congestion by attracting motorists. "A majority of Metro passengers will be pedestrians, others can park at Barakhamba Metro station, Patel Chowk and New Delhi railway station where parking space is being provided," said an official.
NDMC officials, on the other hand, say they expect traffic patterns to change once the Metro station starts operating. The underground parking lot at Palika Bazar, however, remains largely unused despite official claims that the usage has gone up in December.