Swanky parking lot in Model Town gathers dust

The faulty design of North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Model Town’s multi-level parking, instead of solving parking problems is creating parking woes for vehicle owners. The Corporation, which had spent nearly Rs 250 crore including the cost of the land, on the entire project, has failed to deliver despite its big bang inauguration about one and half years ago.

The faulty design has created obstacles for vehicles to get entry into the parking premises. Despite hiring a private consultant for the project design and allotting the tender to a private firm, faults surfaced on its construction and design on the very first day of its operation. The project was announced by the erstwhile Corporation about six years back and was inaugurated by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, but the project <g data-gr-id="37">came</g> a cropper due to the glaring oversight.

The failure of the North MCD in executing its ambitious parking project in a prime location has not only left shoppers, traders and the residents of the area in a spot of bother, but has also caused a loss of a whopping amount of Rs 250 crore to the Corporation’s exchequer.

Civic officials, however, have assured to address the design flaw to enable the entry of vehicles. What is worse is that the vehicle owners are forced to park their vehicles on both sides of the road while the parking lot is gathering dust.

The three-storeyed facility in the Model Town-II, with a total area of over 4,498 <g data-gr-id="35">sqm</g>, was built at a cost of over Rs 25 crore excluding the land cost which is around Rs 200 crore and was designed to accommodate 110 cars and an equal number of two-wheelers. 

Aiming to develop the facility properly, optimum utilisation of space was effected by the Corporation.

“It is earthquake resistant and will reduce congestion in the area. It also has a ventilation system with sensors and a fire detection system,” an official had said at the inauguration of the project. 

Besides, the parking lot has energy-efficient lighting system and CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points, the official had said, adding that the parking lot also has, for public convenience, drinking water, two passenger lifts and an empty space which may be utilised for organising social events.

Mukesh Goel, Leader of Opposition in the North Corporation, said that the BJP-ruled civic agency was insensitive to the loss of public money. On one <g data-gr-id="39">side</g> they are crying for aid and grants and on the other they waste public money. “The Corporation and its departments are careless about their duties and responsibilities. Even after this botched design was brought to their notice, the ruling party is failed to take remedial measures,” Goel said.