BMC to get 689 parking spots in Lower Parel

Motorists match wits with each other almost all hours of the day in trying to track down a parking spot at a bustling neighbourhood like Lower Parel. But things are looking up. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set to acquire its first parking lot in the area from a private developer against issuance of extra floor space index (FSI).

Watch this space: The parking lot near Apollo mills at Lower Parel, which would be soon handed over to BMC by Lodha Developers; (inset) The control room to monitor activities at the lot. Pics/Shadab Khan

"Lodha Developers have assured us that they would hand over the parking lot to BMC in a fortnight. I have visited the place and it is fully automated - there's mechanised ticketing system, and vehicles would be scanned while entering the parking lot. It is very high-tech," said
municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte.

According to section 33 (24) of Development Control Regulations, a new construction on a plot of over 1,000 sq m in the island city and over 2,000 sq m in the suburbs would get up to four FSI if the developer agrees to build a public parking lot and hand it over to BMC for free. The original policy was introduced in 2008.

To avail the benefit, over 70 developers have approached BMC and 11 have got clearances from the civic body. The parking lot that Lodha Developers would hand over to BMC has room for 689 four-wheelers.

The corporation has already allotted 92 roads on contract for pay and park zones.

"Apart from this, the state government has approved 29 sites under DCR 33 (24), from where 29,500 parking spaces would become available soon," Kunte added.

Abhishek Lodha, managing director of Lodha Developers was not available for comment. S Karthik, senior vice-president of the firm said he was not aware of the issue. u00a0