Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has approved spending a whopping Rs 1 crore on a mechanical parking facility for just 12 cars at its Danapith headquarters. This comes even as a multi-tier parking facility with a capacity for hundreds of vehicles stands underutilized just 200 meters away.
On Thursday, the civic body’s standing committee greenlit the proposal, citing a lack of parking space at the headquarters. The new system, essentially a mechanical rotator, is touted to fit 12 cars where only two could park earlier. It will serve as a pilot project with a five-year maintenance contract, potentially paving the way for similar facilities at other AMC offices.
However, the decision has sparked criticism for its apparent extravagance. Critics point out the existence of several underutilized multi-level parking complexes across the city, including those near Danapith and Sindhu Bhavan Road. Additionally, on-street and off-street parking options, along with paid parking under flyovers, already exist.
Sources within the AMC suggest the new system is a potential waste of public funds, questioning the logic of spending heavily on parking for a mere 12 cars when a larger facility stands practically unused nearby. The proximity to the existing multi-tier parking raises further concerns about the project’s rationale and cost-effectiveness.
With questions looming over the necessity and financial viability of this project, it remains to be seen whether the AMC’s gamble on a high-tech parking solution for a handful of vehicles will pay off or simply add to the list of underutilized civic infrastructure projects in the city.
