Only 15 of 198 parking lots developed in last 50 years

Only 15 of 198 parking lots developed in last 50 years

PUNE: Though the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has passed a parking policy to control increasing private vehicles and provide parking space to existing private vehicles in the city, a major problem ahead of the civic body is of developing existing parking lots as there is a cash crunch.  The corporation has 198 parking reservations of which only 15 lots have been developed in last five decades. 

This was revealed in a written question raised by Shiv Sena corporator from Kothrud, Prithviraj Sutar in the PMC General Body Meeting. He demanded information about parking reservations in Development Plan (DP) of Pune city and developed parking reservation. 

Land Acquisition and Estate Department and Building Permission and Development Department provided information in writing to Sutar’s question. In which the corporation stated, “In 1966 DP, there were 19 parking reservations and 26 in 1986 DP. It increased to 101 in 2017 DP. All these reservations were in old city limits DP while there are 42 parking reservations in 23 merged villages. There is another parking reservation in last year’s merged village of Yewalewadi DP. It means that there are a total 198 reservations in the city so far. However, the administration has admitted they have developed 15 reservations which are functioning right now.”

According to Building Permission and Development Department officials, parking development is the duty of the Land Acquisition Department. “We can put a reservation on land for different amenities. Due to the space crunch, there is not enough parking reservation in the city,” they said.

A senior officials of Land Acquisition Department said, “After putting a reservation in development of city, the first priority of the corporation is to acquire land by giving compensation to landowners. However, we don’t have enough money to acquire land as most of the landowners demand cash compensation rather other non-cash option such as Transfer Development Rights (TDR) or additional Floor Space Index (FSI).”

He added, “There is another option to give permission to the developer that he should develop the plot and make available parking space to the corporation while taking benefit of TDR or FSI without taking money. However, very few developers come forward to give it to the corporation.” 

Yogesh Gogawale, City Unit Chief of BJP told Sakal Times, “We have given a proposal to the municipal commissioner to develop parking lots on Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT). I have 30 proposals from agencies who are ready to develop on BoT. Now, we will send them to municipal administration so they will finalise the decision.”

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