Vaniyamkulam multi-level car park facility set to open by Sept

T'puram: The multi-level car parking (MLCP) facility coming up at Vaniyamkulam near the busy Chalai Market is expected to be opened to public by Sept, providing major relief to the worsening parking congestion in Chalai market and surrounding commercial areas.According to officials of Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL), around 30% of the construction work has been completed and the project is progressing steadily. The facility is being developed primarily to accommodate trucks arriving for logistics and goods transportation to Chalai Market and East Fort, besides providing parking space for cars. A senior SCTL official said the MLCP has been designed as a mixed-use facility considering the commercial potential of the area. "The Vaniyamkulam MLCP will have four floors. The ground floor will be exclusively earmarked for truck parking as heavy vehicles bringing goods to Chalai and East Fort currently create severe congestion on the roads. The first floor will be dedicated for car parking. The remaining two floors will be leased out for commercial purposes, including shops or halls, since the locality has strong commercial viability," the official said. The project is part of the smart mobility and urban infrastructure initiatives being implemented in the capital to address the acute shortage of organized parking facilities in major commercial hubs. Meanwhile, the newly completed MLCPs at Medical College and Putharikandam have been opened to the public after trial operations began on Thursday following the lifting of the election model code of conduct. Medical College MLCP is expected to significantly ease parking issues around the medical college hospital, one of the busiest healthcare hubs in the state where patients, visitors and hospital staff often struggle to find parking space. The automated parking system at the facility is designed to maximize vehicle accommodation within limited urban space. Similarly, Putharikandam MLCP near East Fort is expected to benefit commuters, traders and visitors arriving in the city centre. Located close to major transport hubs and shopping areas, the facility is expected to reduce roadside parking and traffic bottlenecks in the crowded locality. The tariff for parking is the same as the one in Palayam MLCP. Corporation officials said public should make maximum use of MLCP facilities to help reduce traffic congestion and illegal roadside parking across the city.