Gurugram: Leisure Valley parking, once food trucks hub, will now host events

GURUGRAM: Residents can book the parking area of the Leisure Valley Park in Sector 29 for events once again after a hiatus of four years.
According to GMDA officials, the metropolitan authority has set Rs 20 per square metre (sqm) as the charge for organising any event in the park's parking area, which is spread across two acres.
"Over the last few years, people have approached us on several occasions requesting they be allowed to host some social or promotional event in the parking space, but we were not permitting it," said Subhash Chander Yadav, the GMDA additional chief executive officer (urban environment division).
This matter was also discussed at a meeting of GMDA's core planning cell (CPC) earlier this week, where it was proposed that such events be allowed, and a fee be fixed per sqm per day. The area, which is usually vacant, used to house several food trucks before the pandemic.
At the meeting, GMDA officials said organisers are charged Rs 14 per sqm for events in the parking area of Tau Devi Lal sports complex's cricket stadium. Similarly, for use of the parking area of the athletic track, a fee of Rs 16.7 per sqm is charged.
Keeping these rates as a benchmark, GMDA officials proposed fixing the rate for events in the parking area of Leisure Valley Park at Rs 20 per sqm. The CPC recommended the proposal, which will now be implemented immediately.
"We do not need to float a tender or anything for this and will simply begin leasing out the space at this rate from now. Whoever comes to us to hold an event can now organise it by paying these charges," said the additional CEO.
Residents of the city have welcomed the move. "Although new sectors in Gurugram have a lot of space, vast open spaces are few and far between in the rest of the city. The parking space outside Leisure Valley Park, which mostly remains empty, can be used for events," said Shefali Mishra, a resident of Sector 43.
"There was a time when events were regularly held there. Food trucks also used to attract crowds and the parking lot would be buzzing in the evenings. It will be good to see all of that return," she said.
GMDA has been working towards revamping the park over the past few months. Earlier this month, officials signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) for the renovation of the 25-acre park by March 2023.