In view of the increasing number of vehicles and parking issues in the city, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Bhubaneswar Smart City limited (BSCl) would launch a new programme called ‘Smart Share Parking’ to address the problem effectively.
Under the system, both Government and private lands would be used for parking. The unused lands on roadsides would be used by the BMC for parking on rent.
A tender would be called for various areas in some locations of the city for which people would not have to pay more parking fee, said BMC Commissioner Krishan Kumar.
The Smart Share Parking system would be introduced in some crowded places in the city. There would be underground parking in Government land and private lands for use on rent for a few years for parking, Kumar said.
Initially, the system would soon start in busy areas like Cuttack Road and Janpath. Around three acres of land belonging to the Sports Department behind the Ram Mandir is lying unused. “We are planning to make an underground parking system there. The land will be brought on lease from the department. As the parking system will be made under the ground, the Sports Department can do its project on the ground,” he said.
Similarly, around two acres of the Panchayati Raj Department is vacant near Kalpana Square, which would be used for parking purpose, Kumar added.
Besides, construction of two underground parking systems in the Raj Mahal and Sahid Nagar areas would begin within a month.
The BMC is also planning to use a few schools’ playgrounds for parking. The parking system would be made under the playgrounds and there would be no parking there during school hours. The school authorities can use the playgrounds during the period. Those parking places would be used from 5 pm till late night. “We will take decision regarding it very soon,” Kumar further said.