A whopping Rs225 crore spent on constructing a multi-level parking facility built in Capital’s posh Model Town area have gone down the drain as the facility has failed to serve its purpose due to its faulty design. North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has inaugurated the ambitious multi-level parking project to ease parking woes in Model Town area.
Residents and shopkeepers cannot use newly constructed parking lot due to its defective design. The entry point to the parking is so narrow that vehicle just cannot enter and hence the very purpose of the parking has been defeated.
The multi-level parking inaugurated by NMC to add brownie points during Assembly elections has come a cropper owing to authorities’ negligence.
The three-storeyed building over 4,498 sq metre area in the Model Town-II was built at a cost of over Rs25 crore excluding land cost which is around Rs200 crore with enough space to park 110 cars and two wheelers each.
While the NMC officials are being blamed for the flawed design which does not allow the entry of vehicles, worse even that the residents are forced to park vehicles in and around the road and pay for it. NMC is already undergoing a huge loss running up to Rs250 crore. The disappointed officials have, however, promised to renovate the entrance to allow successful entry of vehicles.
Mukesh Goel, leader of Opposition in NMC, said the mess is because of the corporation’s negligence and on one hand they want aid and grants from the Delhi Government while on the other they are wasting public money. “The Corporation and its departments are careless about their duties and responsibilities. Even after revealing their callousness, the ruling party has failed to take action,” Goel said.
“It is earthquake resistance and will reduce congestion in the area. It also has a ventilation system with sensors and a fire detection system,” MCD official had said during inauguration of the parking lot.
Besides, the parking has energy efficient lighting system and CCTV cameras at the entry and exits, the official had said, adding that the parking also had a public convenience, drinking water, two passenger lifts and an empty space which may be utilised for organising social events.