Bhopal Mayor, Alok Sharma, has said that the unused underground parking in MP Nagar Zone II will be opened for use by traders of the commercial area.
The decade old underground parking space is not utilised due to flaws in the design . It has remained unused, as the entry of the basement is too low for high mounted cars.
Sharma made the announcement during ‘Chai pe Charcha,’ held to convince the traders in the commercial area to opt for composting. There are more than three dozen, restaurants in the area. Organic waste from these outlets, if utilised for biomethanisation, can illuminate streetlights in half of the commercial area.
If this underground parking space is used, it can cater 1,300 two-wheelers for each of the two zones. “If the basement parking is opened, it could accommodate more than 300 vehicles,” said a BMC spokesperson.
The Mayor told that within 10-days the parking would be functional. The parking space is located near the power discom sub-station. The same space has also been earmarked for ‘smart urbanism’ project of Bhopal smart city.
Besides, the BMC has decided to launch a massive drive against commercial properties, especially MP Nagar hotels for encroaching main road for parking.
Mayor Alok Sharma said, “A large number of commercial properties have violated building construction rules. Parking spaces in these have been utilised for other uses. We are recommending compounding of these properties.”
BMC sources said a special drive would be launched to clear encroached parking spaces along main road by commercial establishments would be undertaken. The Mayor also warned that criminal cases would be filed against parking lot attendants who misbehave with public.