Two multi-level car parking lots in Thiruvananthapuram become fully operational

Officially inaugurated ahead of the local body elections, the two multi-storey car parks (MLCP) at Putharikkandam Maidan and the Medical College became fully operational this week. According to Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Limited officials, each of the car parks can accommodate 200 cars.

“Although these were opened earlier, they have only now started working in full swing. Earlier too, cars could be parked in some areas, but now we have appointed an operator to run it properly. People are just starting to use it. We will install display boards near Central Railway Station for MLCP in Putharikkandam as it will be useful for those traveling away from the city for longer periods of time,” said a Smart City official.

expenses

Similar charges of ₹30 for one hour of parking and ₹150 for 24 hours have been fixed at both MLCPs. The opening of MLCPs will come as a relief to those who frequent East Fort and Thampanoor as well as the Medical College junction area, where parking is difficult to find on most days.

While the MLCP at Putharikkandam Maidan was built at a cost of around ₹ 16 crore, the one near the Medical College junction was completed at ₹ 20 crore. Some of the existing foundation piles at Putharikkandam saved the Company’s initial cost. Putharikkandam MLCP has a raised foundation due to waterlogging problems in the area.

Initially, MLCPs were planned under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 1.0 plan. With the execution period of the projects within the scope of AMRUT 1.0 ending in 2023, two MLCP projects were transferred to the Smart City plan as these projects could not be included within the scope of AMRUT 2.0.

The AMRUT 1.0 plan had a component for ‘improving urban transport facilities’ for which MLCPs were planned. However, there is no such component in AMRUT 2.0, which focuses more on drinking water-related issues.