After nearly nine months and nine rounds of tendering, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has finally secured an agency to develop its first multi-level mechanical car parking project at Raviwar Karanja. This key commercial hub is expected to benefit significantly from the facility, which is slated for completion before the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
Project Details and Model
The Rs 30-crore project will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. Municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri confirmed the breakthrough after repeated failed attempts to attract bidders. "We have finally got an agency to develop a multi-level car parking project in Nashik city after tenders were floated nine times. We hope the project will be completed soon and will be operational before the upcoming Kumbh Mela," Khatri told reporters.
Location and Capacity
The facility will come up at the site of the demolished Yashwant Mandai and will consist of a ground floor plus two levels, with a capacity to accommodate around 233 cars. The project is seen as critical to easing severe parking congestion in Raviwar Karanja, one of the city's busiest commercial areas surrounded by MG Road, Shalimar, Kapad Market and Saraf Bazaar.
Challenges in Tendering
Despite its prime location, the project failed to draw any technically qualified bidders in the first eight tender rounds. The civic body received a response only in the ninth attempt. Originally conceptualised in 2019 under the Smart City Mission by the Nashik Smart City Development Corporation Ltd (NMSCDCL), the plan included similar multi-level parking facilities at Raviwar Karanja and Seeta Gufa in Panchavati. However, both projects failed to take off due to lack of interest from private players.
Revival and Future Timeline
After the conclusion of the Smart City Mission, the Raviwar Karanja project was transferred to NMC. Civic chief Khatri later revived the proposal, pushing for its implementation in view of growing traffic pressure and the upcoming Kumbh Mela. With the agency now finalised, the civic body is aiming to complete and operationalise the facility before the mega religious gathering in 2027. This development is expected to provide much-needed relief to commuters and shoppers in the bustling commercial district.
