Parking scenario in New Delhi, especially in Sarojini Nagar and Khan Market, is in a shambles. The two ambitious Automated Multi level Car Parking (AMlCP) lots of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have miserably failed to attract motorists. Besides, the civic body's plan of further building multi level car parking facilities at KG Marg and Khan Market have fallen flat and have been lingering due to different issues.
The construction of the facility having space for 1780 cars at KG Marg is delaying because it is yet to receive nod from National Monumnet Authority (NMA). It is near ASI projected monument Agrasen Ki Baoli. However, Khan Market project has budgeting issues as land owning agency land and Development Office (l&DO) is charging higher rate of the land required for the parking. Similar is the story for the parking at Shivaji Stadium which the agency claims to have completed by 2010 before Commonwealth Games.
Despite being highly technology driven, the two AMlCP lots in Sarojini Nagar and Baba Kharak Singh Marg are reeling under the burden of extremely low usage by the public. According to sources, only 33 percent, or even less, out of a total capacity of 2,232 vehicles in both the AMlCPs is currently being used.
Citing reasons for the low response from the public towards automated parking facility, NDMC Director Project, OP Mishra said, "There are basically two reasons for few takers of automated parking facility - one, people find it expensive compared to surface parking and two, they are not used to such kind of system." While the one at Sarojini Nagar has a capacity of 824 vehicles, the other at BKG Marg can accommodate 1408 vehicles out of which both receive only around 200 cars on a daily average.
Moreover, the hike in surface area parking under the NDMC is expected to be implemented by end of July. This hike is said to have been decided in order to increase the use of AMlCPs. "The hike in surface area parking will deter people to park on roads. People will then, hopefully, shift to using these automated parking lots," added Mishra.
The NDMC has 53 parking sites under its control. Out of these 53, 13 are allotted on bhagidari basis to different institutions and Government offices. The remaining 41 parking lots have been divided into five groups, which are allotted through tenders.
A DlF official, who built and now maintains parking facilities at BKS Marg and Sarojini Nagar said, “We are hopeful that the situation will improve with stricter implementation of traffic rules. "The number of vehicles being parked in South Square (Sarojini Nagar) and Capitol Point (BKS Marg parking) have increased only marginally.
The main reason for the low response is that people are not aware of the high-tech systems. There is techno-phobia in most of the people because of which they find surface parking much more comfortable and then automated parking is expensive as well. Hence, it has few takers. On weekends we get a few more vehicles which can be numbered to nearly 500."
Opening of Shivaji Stadium parking delayed over logistic questions
The parking at Shivaji stadium, which the civic body claims to have completed, has still not been open for public. It can accommodate 750 cars. Earlier, it was planned that an underground multi-level parking would also be thrown open for public. After debates on whether the parking should be open for general public or be restricted to people working in the offices in its premises, the facility has finally gone in favour of the public. But a new issue has now cropped up on the policy. “We are working out on the logistics of it. Questions like how will we shut the parking on the event of a match, and for how much time the parking will be closed during such time, are being dealt with. All requisite clearances have been sought, we will soon inaugurate the facility,” he informed.
