Solan’s much-awaited parking project hits roadblock

With the Railway authorities failing to provide a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) to connect an upcoming parking project with the road, its completion has been delayed.

In May, a request was made to the Railway authorities to facilitate the civic body in constructing a bridge over the Kalka-Shimla railway line to connect the parking lot.

According to the norms, a bridge can’t be built at a height lower than 5.5m above the railway line. Since the parking project lies much lower, it has become a challenging task to meet this condition. Moreover, securing the NOC concerning the UNESCO World Heritage track is not an easy task and it has to be routed from the Delhi-based head office of the Railways. This handicap has brought the inept planning under scanner as the project was conceived to touch the Mall Road knowing well that a railway line lying below would act as a deterrent.

Though the parking is accessible through a narrow path, this shortcoming has forced the MC to modify its plan and convert the top floor into a commercial area. There was a dire need for parking facilities, given an exponential rise in the number of vehicles over the years. The much-awaited project, which has begun functioning partially, will provide parking facility to about 200 vehicles. It has remained stuck for years on one issue or the other after being conceived in 2008.

Ekta Kapta, MC Commissioner, said, “A request was made to the Railway authorities in May for the NOC, but our plea has fallen on deaf ears.” She added that commercial space is being created on the top floor and will generate income for the urban body.

After remaining suspended for nearly six years due to paucity of funds, the work on the project was re-started last year after a sum of Rs 50 lakh was made available.

As per an estimate, 13,265 challans have been issued for idle parking in Solan, which is 85 per cent of all challans highlighting the need to have more parking facilities.