Bids for parking lot triple expectations

The parking lot spread over a 3000 sq mt plot was constructed by Trident hotel as part of its deal with the MMRDA when it won the bid for a plot reserved for a hotel and public parking lot. The Rs 40 crore parking lot with space for up to 850 cars was thrown open to public in December last year. However,car owners continued to haphazardly park on the road outside for free instead of paying to park within the parking lot. “We had communicated the problem to the traffic police after which cars are being parked inside the lot,” said deputy MMRDA commissioner AR Wankhede.

He added that Trident will have the first right of refusal to run the parking lot if they are willing to match the price offered by the highest bidder. The parking lot is presently being managed by Trident Hotel which has employed 33 employees to manage the car park. As against the Rs 5 an hour charged by the BMC at its parking lots,the charges at the BKC lot are much higher at Rs 17 an hour and Rs 6 for every half hour.