Underground parking lot for 2,000 cars to open at BKC
The two-storey parking lot, spread over nearly 800,000 sq ft, has been developed by MMRDA and Reliance, and is Maharashtra’s biggest underground parking lot.
Parking woes at Bandra Kurla Complex may end soon with Mumbai’s biggest underground parking lot set to be thrown open in a fortnight. Built by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance, the massive car park behind ICICI Bank building in BKC will accommodate 2,000 cars on two levels.
MMRDA’s Metropolitan commissioner U P S Madan said, “We completed this project on a Build Operate Transfer basis. The car park is of two storeys, built under a recreation ground behind Capitol building. As per our agreement, each floor will have space for 1,000 cars, and Reliance and MMRDA will operate one level each. Our parking rates will be similar to BMC’s parking rates. It is likely to open in the next 15 days.”
In November 2006, MMRDA invited bids for the parking project and RIL was the sole bidder. As per initial estimates, the project was to cost Rs 67 crore and the company was to pay MMRDA a rent of Rs 37,252 per year that would be increased by 10% each year.
The location chosen was a 37,000 sq mt plot belonging to MMRDA and reserved for a recreation ground. While the parking lot has been constructed over approximately 8 lakh sq ft, MMRDA has kept the ground intact. Apart from rest rooms for drivers, it also has amenities like waiting rooms and ticketing windows.
Recently, Municipal Commissioner S J Kunte visit the spot. “We expect to receive the Occupation Certificate soon,” Madan said. “We have also asked the traffic department to regulate the haphazard parking on the road.’’
Deputy Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Pratap Dighavkar said, “BKC is ever growing. Mumbai has parking facilities for just 12 per cent of the vehicular population, and nearly 30 per cent of road space is utilised for parking vehicles. While Mumbai has a vehicular population of over 23 lakh, nearly seven to eight lakh cars come in from neighbouring satellite towns. Such underground car parks are welcome.
“This is Maharashtra’s first underground car park under a recreation ground. Years ago, when Shiv Sena leader the late Pramod Navalkar was transport minister, he spoke of having a car park under Oval Maidan, but it never took off,” Dighavkar said.
S J Shah, a motorist who regularly travels to BKC, said, “Of late, it has become extremely difficult to find parking place in BKC. I hope this car park will be a huge relief for motorists.’’
In the past, MMRDA had constructed a parking tower at Cross Road-2 in Nariman Point. But it was a failure and was handed over to a private operator. The food court that was supposed to cater to officegoers, has also been taken over by leading hotel chains.
Parking woes at Bandra Kurla Complex may end soon with Mumbai’s biggest underground parking lot set to be thrown open in a fortnight. Built by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance, the massive car park behind ICICI Bank building in BKC will accommodate 2,000 cars on two levels.
MMRDA’s Metropolitan commissioner U P S Madan said, “We completed this project on a Build Operate Transfer basis. The car park is of two storeys, built under a recreation ground behind Capitol building. As per our agreement, each floor will have space for 1,000 cars, and Reliance and MMRDA will operate one level each. Our parking rates will be similar to BMC’s parking rates. It is likely to open in the next 15 days.”
BKC was developed in the late 90s as the second business district of Mumbai. As it grew, more and more vehicles began coming in and employees of the various offices in BKC began parking in a haphazard manner and blocking roads. The cycling track started by MMRDA here was also used for parking.
In November 2006, MMRDA invited bids for the parking project and RIL was the sole bidder. As per initial estimates, the project was to cost Rs 67 crore and the company was to pay MMRDA a rent of Rs 37,252 per year that would be increased by 10% each year.
The location chosen was a 37,000 sq mt plot belonging to MMRDA and reserved for a recreation ground. While the parking lot has been constructed over approximately 8 lakh sq ft, MMRDA has kept the ground intact. Apart from rest rooms for drivers, it also has amenities like waiting rooms and ticketing windows.
Recently, Municipal Commissioner S J Kunte visit the spot. “We expect to receive the Occupation Certificate soon,” Madan said. “We have also asked the traffic department to regulate the haphazard parking on the road.’’
Deputy Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Pratap Dighavkar said, “BKC is ever growing. Mumbai has parking facilities for just 12 per cent of the vehicular population, and nearly 30 per cent of road space is utilised for parking vehicles. While Mumbai has a vehicular population of over 23 lakh, nearly seven to eight lakh cars come in from neighbouring satellite towns. Such underground car parks are welcome.
“This is Maharashtra’s first underground car park under a recreation ground. Years ago, when Shiv Sena leader the late Pramod Navalkar was transport minister, he spoke of having a car park under Oval Maidan, but it never took off,” Dighavkar said.
S J Shah, a motorist who regularly travels to BKC, said, “Of late, it has become extremely difficult to find parking place in BKC. I hope this car park will be a huge relief for motorists.’’
In the past, MMRDA had constructed a parking tower at Cross Road-2 in Nariman Point. But it was a failure and was handed over to a private operator. The food court that was supposed to cater to officegoers, has also been taken over by leading hotel chains.
