In a significant move to streamline parking management in a congested area, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has received the green light to hand over the operations of the Sohna Chowk multi-level parking facility to a private agency. This decision, approved by the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) department, marks a pivotal step towards addressing long-standing traffic woes in Gurgaon's bustling Sadar Bazaar.
Approval and Next Steps for the Parking Facility
The ULB department has formally authorised MCG's proposal to outsource the operation and maintenance of the newly built parking structure. Sandeep Dhundhwal, executive engineer at MCG, confirmed the development, stating that the civic body will now initiate the tender process to select a private agency. He expressed confidence that the entire process, from floating the tender to finalising the agency, will be wrapped up within one month.
"We have received approval to hire a private agency to operate the multi-level parking. We will now float the tender and complete the process within one month. The parking facility is expected to start by the end of February," Dhundhwal said. This plan, first reported by TOI in early October, involves a five-year contract for the private entity to manage the facility.
Details of the Project and Parking Charges
The parking facility, a key project for the city, has been constructed over an area of 3,187 square metres. It features three basements and six floors above ground, with a total capacity to accommodate 218 cars. The construction, which faced considerable delays, was finally completed four years behind its original December 2021 deadline.
As part of the approved proposal, parking rates will be implemented in a two-phase structure. One tariff slab will be applicable for the initial three years of operation, followed by a revised slab for the subsequent two years. The ULB has empowered MCG to take the final decision on the specific parking charges for different vehicle categories.
A Solution for Sadar Bazaar Congestion
The primary objective behind outsourcing the management of this facility is to bring order to the chaotic traffic situation in and around Sadar Bazaar. For years, unregulated roadside parking in this old and crowded market area has been a major contributor to traffic jams and inconvenience for shoppers and residents alike.
Once operational by the end of February 2024 as projected, the professionally managed parking lot is expected to significantly ease these parking woes. It will provide a structured alternative to haphazard street parking, potentially improving traffic flow in one of Gurgaon's most congested commercial hubs.
The importance of such infrastructure was underscored recently when Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 113.6 crore. The most prominent among these was the Sadar Bazaar multi-level car parking itself, built at a cost of Rs 55.20 crore, highlighting the state's focus on urban mobility solutions in Gurgaon.
