Chandigarh Mayor seeks nod for shops in defunct parking lots to create jobs, boost civic revenue
Joshi said several underground parking sites of the Municipal Corporation are lying unused and have become 'white elephants'
Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi has written to the Chief Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, proposing to convert the city’s defunct and underutilised underground parking lots into commercial hubs with modern parking facilities under the public-private partnership model.
Joshi said several underground parking sites of the Municipal Corporation are lying unused and have become “white elephants”. With strategic planning and private participation, he said, these spaces could become “gold mines” for revenue and create jobs for youth.
He pointed to four major defunct sites — three in Sector 17 and one in Sector 8 — as having redevelopment potential. He also proposed including Elante Mall parking in the model, saying integrated commercial activity there could significantly raise revenue for the Municipal Corporation.
Citing Old Delhi, where private players like Omaxe Limited have implemented similar projects, the mayor said such models generate substantial public revenue and improve urban infrastructure.
Adopting the PPP model would save the exchequer crores and ensure sustainable revenue growth for the corporation, he added.
The mayor urged the Chandigarh Administration to support the proposal and act swiftly.
