2K parking spaces planned for Shimla Smart City
Subhash Rajta
Shimla, February 12
The authorities are planning to create 2,000-2,500 parking spaces for Shimla Smart City by early next year. At the moment, apart from small parking lots inside most of the wards, Shimla Smart City has at least five major parking lots under active implementation, while the detailed project report (DPR) for two other parking lots has been completed. Besides, the proposals for two other parking lots, one of which has already been approved by the Smart City board of directors, are awaited.
“Many of these projects will be completed within this year and the remaining by early next year. The availability of increased parking spaces will bring relief to residents as well as tourists,” said Smart City general manager (Technical) Nitin Garg.
One of the largest parking lots, which will accommodate 700 vehicles, is coming up close to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) at a cost of Rs 32 crore. Besides, two more parking lots are planned close to the hospital. “The DPR for a parking lot opposite the IGMC auditorium has been made and most clearances for the project have been secured. A tentative budget of Rs 15 crore, too, has been approved by the Smart City board of directors,” said Garg.
The third parking at the side is planned opposite the new OPD building. “It will be a huge parking lot. In this complex, there will be rooms for patients and attendants coming from out of town. It should have a capacity of 700 to 800 vehicles, depending on the number of rooms built for people,” said Garg. “The project has been approved by the BoD, we are awaiting a proposal from the Public Works Department.”
The other big parking is coming up in Vikasnagar, which will accommodate 200 vehicles. “Besides, we have parking lots coming up in Wills Park, Kacchi Ghati, Barns Court near Raj Bhavan, Panthaghati and Sankat Mochan,” said Garg.
Apart from creating parking spaces, Garg said initiatives like the widening of roads, creation of pedestrian paths and foot overbridges were being taken to decongest the overburdened city roads. “A budget of Rs 55 crore had been allocated to make better pedestrian paths. The idea is to provide better connectivity to reduce people’s dependence on vehicles,” he said.
“We hope all these projects are completed without getting caught up in bureaucratic or political tangles,” said Ramesh Chauhan, a city resident.
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Box
Parking lots under active implementation
Site Budget Capacity (tentative)
IGMC Rs 32 crore 700 vehicles
Vikasnagar 13.27 crore 200 vehicles
Sankat Mochan Rs 5 crore 100 vehicles
Raj Bhavan Rs 1.14 crore 35 vehicles
Panthaghati 95 lakh 80
Projects for which DPR is ready
Site Budget Capacity (tentative)
IGMC Rs 15 crore 400
Boileauganj Rs 5 crore 100 vehicles
