Under Ludhiana bridge: India’s first organised highway parking pilot.

Ludhiana: In a major move to tackle chronic urban congestion, Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora on Sunday inaugurated construction for India's first-ever organized on-highway urban parking development project.The pilot project, executed by the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) — a subsidiary of the NHAI — serves as a national blueprint for the "scientific" utilization of idle spaces beneath and alongside elevated highway corridors.Transforming ‘Dead Space'The ₹7-crore initiative targets Ludhiana's most congested arterial routes, transforming underused land into structured parking zones. The project was fast-tracked following sustained engagement between the Punjab government and central agencies to resolve long-standing regulatory bottlenecks. "This initiative will provide safe, organized, and easily accessible parking for commuters, shoppers, and residents," minister Arora told reporters. "It will significantly reduce roadside chaos, improve traffic discipline, and enhance safety across the city's key corridors."The minister emphasised that the model — utilizing the "dead space" beneath elevated roads — is intended for replication in other major cities across Punjab and the rest of India. The project is being developed under a Design, Build, Operate, and Transfer (DBOT) model with a 10-year concession period. Officials state the new zones will be "environmentally compliant" and aesthetically integrated into the urban landscape to prevent them from becoming eyesores.The inauguration was attended by a high-level delegation, including local MLAs, the Mayor, and the District Commissioner, signaling the political weight behind the state's push for "people-centric" urban growth. Work is expected to be completed within six months, providing immediate relief to a city that has long struggled with unregulated roadside parking and gridlock.boxProject Fast FactsThe project can hold 750 organised car parking slots. It stretches from Bharat Nagar Chowk to Sidhwan Canal and beneath the elevated corridor toward the ISBT. It has 14 architecturally designed parking zones across both sides of the elevated road., with a completion timeline of 6 months.The investment is estimated to be ₹7 crore.