The India Post, Chandigarh, 10th May2009 : Since the inception of the city Beautiful: Chandigarh, the planners of the city have given top priority to the free circulation of traffic and parking, but the city, having the highest per capita cars in the country has always demanded for more parking space. To sort out the ever increasing demand of parking in the city the Chandigarh Administration is constructing various Multi Level parkings and Surface parkings in the city.Department of Urban Planning and Town Planning has already earmarked sites with an approximate area of 5 acres for Multi Level parking in Sector 17, detailing of which would be done after receiving Comprehensive Mobility Plan by RITES. The department has also proposed some parking sites along V4 roads. Chief Architect further informed that various sites have been identified in Industrial Area for developing Multi Level parking, which are currently being used as surface parking. Engineering wing of Municipal Corporation will undertake the construction work of these parking sites, added CA.
Along with it, Urban Planning Department is making plans for augmenting the existing parking sites wherever there is a demand and amendments on the site are found viable. There are also certain parking sites which are underutilized, strategies are made for the optimize use of these parking sites.
UT Finance-cum-Engineering Secretary disclosed that around 11 acres of land has been earmarked in Industrial Area Phase I and II for the development of Multi Level Parking. Alone in Industrial Area Phase I there is provision for parking around 1100 vehicles currently, however with the subsequent development of Multi Level Parking the provision of parking vehicles will increase manifold. The sites have already been handed over to the Municipal Corporation for further execution, added Mr. Kumar.
Mr. Kumar also informed that about 1.2 acre of land at the back of Saahib Singh Block Sector 17 is being upgraded as a Multi Level parking the work of the same is undertaken by MC. The several sites allocated for parking would be developed as Multi Level only after the feasibility is checked as per the Comprehensive Mobility Plan will be submitted by RITES, added Mr. Kumar.
Chief Architect informed that there had been a persistent demand for providing more parking space in Town hall Building, to minimize the problem, the parking space at the back of GPO has been extended till the new parking sites are developed. CA further apprised that the cycle stand which was being underutilized has been roped in and made fully utilized.