Rickety underground parking lots to get makeover in Chandigarh's Sector 8 market

Sandeep Rana

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Chandigarh, July 21

After the delay of five years, all three underground parking lots in Sector 8 will finally be reconstructed or repaired, which will give a huge relief to shoppers from worsening parking problem in this area located on the Madhya Marg.

Institute submitted report in 2019

Five underground parking lots, two in Sector 8-C and three in Sector 17, were declared unsafe by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, in 2019.

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In for revamp

Lot near SCO Nos: 121-124

(To be dismantled, rebuilt; cost to be assessed);

present parking space:

55 two-wheelers,

50 four-wheelers

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In front of SCO Nos: 151-155

(To be dismantled, rebuilt, cost to be assessed);

present parking space:

50 two-wheelers,

40 four-wheelers

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Close to SCO Nos: 173-174

(To be repaired for estimated cost of Rs 85.67 lakh);

present parking space:

50 two-wheelers,

57 four-wheelers

Following UT Chief Architect Kapil Setia’s approval to the proposal put up by the local Municipal Corporation, the latter is going to reconstruct two unsafe parking lots. A tender for repairs at the third one has already been floated. The MC has prepared an estimate of Rs 85.67 lakh for special repair/maintenance of this underground parking lot in front of SCO Nos. 173-174.

The civic body had submitted to the Chief Architect details about the parking requirement of the area along with the findings of a digital survey of the site. The MC had simultaneously conducted physical as well as digital surveys of the parking lots in July last year. The civic body had highlighted the need for additional parking space in these lots. These facilities have a space for around 300 four and two-wheelers. Shoppers visiting not only the Sector 8 market but also places in Sector 7 and 9 will benefit once the parking lots are rebuilt. During the peak hours, a large number of vehicles are seen parked on the roadside.

Five underground parking lots, two in Sector 8-C and three in Sector 17, were declared unsafe by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, in 2019. The three lots in Sector 17 are located in front of the RBI building, the 30 Bays building (two-storey) and near Chhuttani Medical Centre (two-wheelers and bicycles).

According to the report prepared by the IIT, the third underground parking lot near SCOs 173-174 in Sector 8-C can be repaired. The report had cited corrosion as the main reason for damage caused to the five structures.

In July 2019, the MC House had decided to shut all these parking lots. The civic body is yet to get approval for reconstruction of the three unsafe underground parking lots in Sector 17 from the UT Administration. Sources said a private architect, who is preparing the Sector 17 revitalisation plan, is also examining the parking lots.