`Multilevel parking bad idea'
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Asija, Navdeep
Apr 17, 2015, 6:23:11 AM4/17/15
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NEW DELHI: Urban planners are opposed to multilevel parking projects. They say these are not a solution to the growing parking problem. Even government officials admit that PPP parking projects have failed.While experts recommend harsh measures like dramatic reduction in parking spaces, levying congestion charges and hiking parking rates, they admit there is an urgent need to upgrade the existing transport infrastructure.
"Parking projects in PPP are not a good idea," said OP Mishra, former director of projects at NDMC. The NDMC had started two multilevel automated parking projects at Sarojini Nagar and Baba Khadak Singh Marg. "Not many people use these parking lots as they find it convenient to park on roadside. In such PPP projects, the concessionaire doesn't try hard to make it operational as the operational cost is very high. If multilevel parking lots are to be constructed, then there should be no commercial component involved,'' said Mishra.
Most multilevel parking projects in the country have failed as these are not cost-effective, say government officials. According to a conservative estimate, the government has to spend close to Rs 5 lakh per car to construct a conventional parking and Rs 9 lakh per car for an automated parking lot. In fact, they say the government shouldn't invest in these projects. "It is not government's duty to provide parking space for private vehicles. It is like asking the government to provide a house just because you have bought an air-conditioner. Creating more parking space will lead to more traffic jams.There is a need to reduce parking space,'' said Shreya Gadepalli, director transport, Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
But car users argue that the government should first provide a good public transport facility . Foreign experts also don't recommend such extreme measures as solution to the parking problem
"Parking projects in PPP are not a good idea," said OP Mishra, former director of projects at NDMC. The NDMC had started two multilevel automated parking projects at Sarojini Nagar and Baba Khadak Singh Marg. "Not many people use these parking lots as they find it convenient to park on roadside. In such PPP projects, the concessionaire doesn't try hard to make it operational as the operational cost is very high. If multilevel parking lots are to be constructed, then there should be no commercial component involved,'' said Mishra.
Most multilevel parking projects in the country have failed as these are not cost-effective, say government officials. According to a conservative estimate, the government has to spend close to Rs 5 lakh per car to construct a conventional parking and Rs 9 lakh per car for an automated parking lot. In fact, they say the government shouldn't invest in these projects. "It is not government's duty to provide parking space for private vehicles. It is like asking the government to provide a house just because you have bought an air-conditioner. Creating more parking space will lead to more traffic jams.There is a need to reduce parking space,'' said Shreya Gadepalli, director transport, Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
But car users argue that the government should first provide a good public transport facility . Foreign experts also don't recommend such extreme measures as solution to the parking problem
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