Rs 48-cr multi-level parking facility fails to find takers

The city’s first multi-level parking in Sector 17, which was built at a cost of around Rs 48 crore 10 years ago, has failed to attract visitors due to the lack of facilities. Built on an area of 4.78 acres, the four-level parking has the capacity to accommodate around 950 cars, but the facility remains under-utilised most of the time.

Leakage in the rainy season and non-functional lights are some of issues the facility is facing. Traders of Sector 17 said leakage in the parking complex was a constant irritant in the rainy season.

Sanjiv Chadha, president of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM), said the multi-level parking lacked proper lighting. Since its inauguration, the multi-level parking has been facing problems, he added. Many times lifts stop functioning. Due to these issues there are not many takers of the parking facility.

Chadha said a portion of the parking complex had been given to the company managing the Smart Bike project. Not all floors are being utilised as parking facility.

Even the Audit Department in its report has observed that spending Rs 48 crore on a multi-level parking is the colossal waste of government funds. The report mentioned that the parking has failed to serve its purpose due the apathy of the department concerned.

Surinder Kumar, a trader, said the parking was constructed after the Municipal Corporation felt the need for one. But the MC has failed to utilise it properly, he added. Moreover, it has failed to generate revenue for the cash-starved Municipal Corporation.

Charanjiv Singh, Chairman of CBM, said the lack of facilities at the parking complex was a major reason behind its failure to attract users.

Another trader said it was frightening to enter the parking area in the absence of proper lighting. He said if the MC provided all facilities then only it can become useful for people and can generate revenue for the civic body.

Maintaining that all levels of the parking must be utilised fully, area councillor Saurabh Joshi said if the MC was not able to utilise the multi-level parking then the whole parking should be used for some other purpose, like as a godown or other commercial activity, for generating revenue for the cash-strapped civic body.

When contacted, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla said she would look into all issues and instructions would be issued to provide proper lighting and other facilities at the multi-level parking. The residents are being charged Rs 10 for four-wheelers and Rs 5 for two-wheelers. The parking project has remained in controversy for one reason or the other since its inauguration.