| Work Detail |
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has yet to make progress on four long-pending multi-level parking (MLP) projects at key locations including Rajendra Place, Rani Bagh, Shastri Park, and Idgah. Despite attempts to revive these projects earlier this year, no concrete steps have been taken to move them forward.
In April, the MCD hired a consultant to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) and tender document for the three parking projects at Rajendra Place, Rani Bagh, and Shastri Park. The MCD had approved a revised proposal in March to develop these sites, which aim to alleviate parking congestion in these busy areas. The Shastri Park project, expected to accommodate 935 vehicles, and the Rajendra Place and Rani Bagh projects, each planned for 700 vehicles, are still pending a final decision on hiring a consultant.
The projects were initially conceived eight years ago to address chronic parking issues, with current surface parking at these sites proving insufficient for the growing demand. The cost estimates for these projects are ?118.8 crore for Shastri Park, ?96.8 crore for Rani Bagh, and ?96.5 crore for Rajendra Nagar. However, delays in decision-making have hampered progress, with officials stating that the process to prepare tender documents will only begin once clarity is gained on the need for a project consultant.
The parking shortage in these areas has become a major issue, with illegal roadside parking contributing to traffic jams. Rani Bagh, a commercial hub with hundreds of shops, and Rajendra Nagar, a densely populated area, both require additional parking space to reduce congestion.
Meanwhile, the plan for the Idgah parking project, approved in 2021 by the former North Delhi Municipal Corporation, aims to create a parking facility for over 3,000 vehicles in collaboration with Delhi Metro to ease traffic congestion in Sadar Bazar and the Old Delhi area. However, like the other projects, it remains stalled. |
