Parking Problem: AMC faces roadblocks

Have wheels but can’t park? Not surprising since it’s already three months since the impact fee ordinance directed that owners of buildings where parking spaces have been converted into shops or offices should construct parking areas within 500 metres of the building within six months. Till date, not one parking space has been created and with just three months remaining, neither the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation nor the Urban Development Ministry, which issued the ordinance, seems to know what to do.

The ordinance also stated that where the owners are themselves unable to provide for parking, the AMC will charge money and create the infrastructure.

Now, the AMC has received applications from all the buildings without parking spaces stating that there was no space within 500 metres to construct parking lots. However, the AMC has thrown up its hands and is directing all the applications to the ministry to work out a solution.

Urban Development Minister I K Jadeja said while it is true that commercial buildings who have encroached on parking spaces are expected to provide an equal space within a 500—metre radius, no one has approached the department with a proposal till date. "Neither the AMC nor any individual buildings has approached the ministry to sort out the issue," the minister said. Jadeja pointed out that there were still three months to go for the deadline and during this time they would try to find out a solution.

The parking problem is acute on C G Road, where owners of shops and offices park their vehicles in slots meant for the public rather than the basement and official parking lots have been converted into shops or offices. Other problems areas are Relief Road, Maninagar and other parts of the old city.

Civic body officials say that in most commercial buildings, occupiers have contended that there is no available open space within 500metres. This is particularly so in buildings in the West Zone. Officials say that although no concrete proposal has come forth, occupiers of these buildings can buy a plot of land at commercial rates and construct a collective multi-storeyed parking complex.

Almost two years ago, the AMC had passed a proposal -to construct a multi-storeyed parking complex at Ratan Pol corner on Gandhi Road. As of date, the foundation has been laid, but construction of the ground floor and four higher floors still remains.

The AMC was first awaiting permission from the Archaeological Survey of India as the proposed complex is within 500m of the Juma Masjid, but with the permission now granted, work has begin again. The complex is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh and is expected to ease the traffic congestion on Gandhi Road to a large extent.

According to J D Parmar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Projects), there are just two projects under which multi-storeyed parking complexes are to be constructed. Of these, the foundation stone of one of them has been laid, while the second project is still on paper.

When asked if the AMC had any plans to have at least one multi-storeyed complex meant exclusively for parking, Parmar said: "No, as of now, work is on for just one complex. There are no plans to have such complexes in all municipal zones."

DyMC Parmar said the, other plan is to construct a multi-storeyed parking complex outside Prem Darwaja to tackle the traffic congestion around Kalupur station. "It is to be constructed on the site where, the AMC demolished the Rain Basera building, but work has still not begun there," he added.

But that means that city residents are routinely inconvenienced because of lack of parking facilities. Bhavesh Shah, a resident of Bhairavnath area of Maninagar, said that although most commercial complexes along the main road connecting Maninagar station and Kankaria are supposed to have parking spaces, vehicles remain parked on the road itself and this blocks smooth flow of traffic and is also inconvenient for pedestrians.

Republished from The Indian Express