Work begins for multi-level robotic parking facility at Flora Fountain
An amount of Rs 200 crore has been earmarked for the project in this year’s civic budget. The parking facility will come up in a demarcated plot adjacent to the fountain, opposite Apsara Pen Mart. At present, this plot serves as a pay-and-use car parking facility.
3 min read
“At present, there is a dearth of open spaces in Mumbai, therefore, converting gardens and parks into parking lots would be unfair. At the same time, vehicular density is increasing and if we don’t find parking solution, roads will be occupied for illegal parking,” the official added.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday initiated the construction work for a multi-level robotic car parking facility at Hutatama Chowk, also known as Flora Fountain.The civic authorities carried out a ground-breaking ceremony for constructing this facility, which once operational, will cater to areas such as Churchgate and Fort.
The multi-level facility with a capacity of 194 vehicles will be equipped with robotic arms and platforms that act as parking pitches for vehicles that will be vertically organised. It will have four underground levels with two separate entry and exit points.
An amount of Rs 200 crore has been earmarked for the project in this year’s civic budget. The parking facility will come up in a demarcated plot adjacent to the fountain, opposite Apsara Pen Mart. At present, this plot serves as a pay-and-use car parking facility.
“Setting up a horizontal conventional parking lot would require larger parcels of land, while these kinds of vertical facilities can be set up on smaller land parcels. These facilities are common in the western countries and we have all the necessary facilities to operate and maintain them,” a civic official told The Indian Express.
In Mumbai, land parcels for creating parking units are usually reserved in the BMC’s development plan 2034 road map. However, with the increase in vehicles, plots reserved for gardens and open spaces are being changed for setting up parking facilities. In 2023, the civic authorities mooted a proposal to set up a parking facility in Bandra’s Patwardhan Park, however, it was rolled back after protest from citizens.
“At present, there is a dearth of open spaces in Mumbai, therefore, converting gardens and parks into parking lots would be unfair. At the same time, vehicular density is increasing and if we don’t find parking solution, roads will be occupied for illegal parking,” the official added.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the facility was carried out in the presence of former municipal corporator, Makarand Narvekar.
“The multi-level car parking at Hutatma Chowk is a welcome step as it will reduce parking problem near the Bombay High Court and adjoining areas. But we reiterate our demand for more underground parking facilities near Kala Ghoda and Regal Cinema as the areas receive a large number of tourists,” said Narvekar.
You May Like
