Bhopal: The multi-level parking being developed by Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide parking space in New Market area is facing financial crunch. The project involves a debt of Rs 5 crore, which the civic body owes to the agency that is developing it. New Market area is one of the major shopping hubs where visitors from across the city and outskirts flock for shopping throughout the year.
If developed, 1000 four wheelers and 1100 two-wheelers will be accommodated in the parking space, which will help in de-congesting roads and end parking related problems. The BMC had planned the project to decongest the roads of vehicles parked randomly and towed away by traffic police. However, the project has been delayed by over one year due to financial crunch.
It was a self-financed project of Bhopal Municipal Corporation for which it had put its 25 shops on auction. The amount received from auction was to be used for developing the parking place. But only 11 shops have been sold so far. Remaining 14 shops could not be auctioned.
The parking project will cost Rs 34 crore to BMC but only a sum of Rs 22 crore has been received through auction of 11 shops. Meanwhile, the time bound dues have escalated due to the delay, which is bothering the Corporation. Started in 2014, the project was to be completed last year. When contacted, BMC deputy commissioner Harish Gupta said project will start soon as issues, which caused delays have been sorted out. “We will inaugurate the project soon,” he added.
