BMC’s robotic parking projects face roadblocks, officials say chalking out alternate measures

Civic officials said the idea of constructing multi-level parking lots in Mumbai has now been kept on the back burner while alternate measures are being chalked out.

c These facilities do not take up large spaces owing to their vertical shape, but they can accommodate a large number of vehicles. They are equipped with robotic arms and platforms that act as parking pitches for the vehicles.

As part of this project, BMC had initiated a Rs 122 crore-worth 17 storey-parking lot project in Mumbadevi, and a 26- storey facility in Matunga at an estimated cost of Rs 127 crore.

The civic authorities issued a stop-work notice for the Mumbadevi project last year, while the tenders for the Matunga project were scrapped last week.

“Today, these projects are being opposed by multiple citizens as well as government agencies. As a result, we had to cancel them… We are also in the process of chalking out alternate measures. Mumbai’s vehicular density is increasing and alternate measures are needed…,” said an official requesting anonymity.

Civic officials maintained that the order for cancelling the Mumbadevi parking lot came from the state government in 2024, following which civic authorities issued a stop-work notice to the contractor.

This facility was supposed to accommodate 600 vehicles at a time. The Matunga facility — supposed to accommodate 700 plus vehicles — was scrapped last week following resistance from residents.

“The Mumbadevi plot was reserved for public parking under the Development Plan 2034 model of the BMC. The civil works were stopped and the project is lying in its condition. If the project is taken up from here again, it will lead to cost escalation,” the official added.

In November 2024, authorities had to stall the operation of another robotic parking lot in south Mumbai’s Bhulabai Desai Road after BMC revoked the agreement with the contractor responsible for maintaining the facility. Operational since 2021, the 21-storey facility was Mumbai’s first robotic parking facility equipped to accommodate 240 vehicles at a time.

The civic authorities had suspended the operation of this parking lot after one of the robotic arms that would control the platforms malfunctioned. They also said leakages were also reported in multiple spots inside the building.