Multi-level parking a distant dream in south Delhi, deadline extended till December 2016

The residents of South Delhi will have to deal with the parking trouble in the area for a little longer as the South MCD has extended the deadlines for its ambitious multi-level parking projects till December 2016.

The multi-level projects, that were scheduled to be constructed ahead of the Commonwealth Games, have been delayed by almost six years. Seven of the eight projects located in Munirka, Subhash Nagar, Rajouri Garden, New Friends Colony, Jangpura, Kalkaji are yet to see the light of the day.

The multi-level parking facility at Hauz Khas is operational but remains underutilised. It was completed in 2014 but couldn't be used due to design flaws. The exit point wasn't wide enough for a large car to move through. Now when it is fit to use, there are only few takers for it. To encourage the use of this parking facility it is planning to increase the rates of surface parking to Rs 100.

These eight projects that cost South MCD Rs 241 crore will add 2,648 parking spots in the congested marketplaces across South Delhi. The seven parking projects that South MCD had claimed to complete by December 2015, has recently been given the new deadlines.

The South MCD claims to open the three multi-level parking projects in Subhash Nagar and Rajouri Garden by the end of December. The reason being cited for the delay is the shortage of funds as it had not received funds for the same from the Centre in the last three years. The projects in the two locations were being constructed under JNNURM scheme.

The funding was distributed among the central government (35 per cent), the state government (15 per cent), and the corporation (50 per cent). The average cost of these projects varies between Rs25-Rs30 crore each.

"The parking facility at Subhash Nagar is 70 per cent complete while the one at Rajouri Garden is 49 per cent complete. With the increase in the financial burden the projects the deadline has been extended till the year end," says, Radhey Shyam Sharma, standing committee chairman, South MCD.

Also, these parking projects have recently received permission from the Delhi Jal Board to relocate the sewer lines, said an MCD official. The two parking projects in New Friends Colony and Jangpura will take another three months that is around June to open for the public as MCD was waiting for the clearances for cutting trees and relocating the sewer lines.

The multi level parking in Munirka though fully constructed has no electricity connection and also facing financial trouble from the contractor's side. South MCD plans to open the parking facility by March end. Simialrly, the parking facility in Kalkaji that is expected to open for public around the same time bringing a big relief to the shopkeepers and residents at Krishna market who have to bear the brunt of this parking mess.

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