[sustran] Bad idea again ? Chennai : CMDA to issue orders for multi-storeyed parking lots

arul rathinam arulgreen at yahoo.com
Sat Mar 11 18:10:35 JST 2006


CMDA to issue orders for multi-storeyed parking lots 

Special Correspondent - The Hindu

At Broadway bus stand, Panagal Park and Government
Estate

•  High growth of vehicle ownership in the city 
•  Authorised parking space is only 5,100 PCE in 161
stretches 
•  Multi-storeyed parking lots are no miracle cure,
say experts 
•  "Better to adopt different strategies in different
places"

CHENNAI: After more than a decade of delay, the
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is
finally set to issue orders on setting up
multi-storeyed parking lots at three locations in the
city. 
The announcement of elections though has temporarily
postponed the launch of the projects. 

Places identified 

According to official sources, the Government agency
has identified places for setting up the parking lots
near Broadway bus stand, Panagal Park and Government
Estate. The mechanised parking lots are aimed at
decongesting high traffic zones. The on street parking
at Chennai Corporation-designated parking lots has
resulted in severe clogging of several commercial
zones in the city. 

Growing vehicle ownership 

A study on "Parking requirements of Chennai
Metropolitan Area" carried out by Wilbur Smith
Associates in 2003 had pointed at the high growth of
vehicle ownership in the city - from 4 vehicles per
100 persons in 1981 to 14 per 100 persons in 1991 to
30 per 100 persons in 2001. 

The peak hour parking demand in the city was
calculated at around 13,000-passenger car equivalent
(PCE; which is roughly equal to space needed for
parking 5,000 cars and 15,000 two wheelers).
Authorised parking space maintained by Chennai
Corporation was only 5,100 PCE spread across 161
stretches. 

In the commercial zones of T. Nagar and Parrys Corner,
parking demand far exceeded the on street capacity.
This also led to an average loss in road capacity of
over 40 per cent. 

The study suggested a comprehensive review of the
parking policy to address the problem. 
Private construction firm Mecon India took up a
detailed study of the proposals for multi storey
parking lots in six locations in Chennai. 

Three projects at Broadway, Panagal Park and
Government Estate off Anna Salai are to be taken up
initially. 

A 3.5-acre land near Broadway bus stand will be
developed as a four-storeyed parking lot. The
automated facility will be used for parking over 300
two wheelers and over 350 cars, besides the buses. 

The facility at Panagal Park will come up on half an
acre plot within the park premises. 

It will be used for parking close to 300 two-wheelers,
350 cars and around 20 commercial vehicles. 
At the Omandurar Government Estate off Anna Salai,
parking facility will be created for over 400 cars. 

Others places where similar parking facilities are
being considered include the 4-acre-MUC (Madras United
Club) grounds in Broadway, and the 0.4-acre MTC depot
on Pattullous Road. Officials are preparing detailed
project reports for the proposals. 

Holistic approach 

Experts have maintained that multi-storeyed parking
lots are no miracle cure and it would be better to
adopt different strategies in different places. 

The Western countries, especially in Europe, have
found success in reducing congestion by declaring them
fully pedestrian zones. 

Vehicles are parked outside the market. 

http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/11/stories/2006031117570300.htm

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