GMDA (Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority) For More Parking Facilities

GUWAHATI: The Rs 14.38-crore automated multi-level car parking lot by the side of RG Baruah Road near Shraddhanjali Kanan seems to remain without cars in most of the time. While a section of car users blame it on wrong selection of the site, the GMDA (Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority) continues to defend the decision to erect such a facility there.

The state-of-the-art parking lot can accommodate 302 four-wheelers and 25 two-wheelers. While the charge for a four-wheeler is Rs 15 an hour, the charge for a two-wheeler is Rs 5 an hour. However, the parking lot, it seems, is lying idol most of the time due to wrong selection of the site.

Most of car users say that the area where the parking lot has been erected has no major commercial or other installations that can pull crowd there. Some of the car users say that a person doing his/her shopping at Ganeshguri has no reason to park his/her car at the parking lot at RG Baruah Road.

Talking to this reporter, GMDA CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Moloy Bora said: “The car users here aren’t used to such a high technology which has been used in this automated multi-level car parking. They’re used to parking by the side of roads etc. There can’t be any parking facility safer than the one erected near RG Baruah Road in the city. It’s the safest way of parking. However, car users shy away from using this parking facility because of their habits.”

Bora further said: “This parking lot can be used for parking of cars for a long time also. When car lifting cases are on the rise in the State, people who have to go to far-off places can leave their cars parked in this facility. Parking a car there is safer than leaving a car in the household garage when its owner is away.” Bora also said: “We’re going to keep the parking facility filled with cars. Talks are on with a few offices and malls for keeping their cars parked in this facility. Such a move can bring more revenue to the facility.”

On future plan of the GMDA, Bora said: “We’re contemplating on erecting a traditional parking lot on the very spot where Dispur Treasury was located outside Janata Bhawan. We’re also searching a place for parking at Panbazar. The rush of cars is more on the GS Road. However, we haven’t got any place there to erect a parking lot. If any private land owner gives us land, we can think of such a facility there too.” On the Rs 11-crore multi-level parking lot near the MMCH (Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital) at Pan Bazar in the city, Bora said: “We’re going to inaugurate the parking facility after two/three months. The facility will accommodate around 250 four-wheelers.”

Also Read: Louis Berger scam: CBI Carries out Investigation at GMDA office