MARGAO
More than a decade after the Margao Municipal Council first proposed a multi-level parking facility, work on the long-awaited 74-car-capacity hydraulic parking project is finally set to begin in the commercial capital.
Construction of the parking facility, along with the renovation of the Margao Municipal Council's heritage building, is expected to commence before the end of July.
PWD Minister Digambar Kamat on Tuesday said the foundation stone for both projects will be laid within the next 10 days. He added that the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) has already issued work orders to the contractors selected to execute the projects.
“I have been informed that the multi-level parking project will accommodate 74 four-wheelers, besides two-wheelers. The facility will come up on a 400 sq m plot at the site of the old fish market behind the Margao Municipal building. The project cost also includes five years of maintenance,” Kamat said.
The automated hydraulic parking facility is expected to ease the chronic parking shortage in Margao's busy commercial district.
Responding to concerns over the system's functioning during power outages, Kamat said hydraulic parking technology is already being used successfully in major metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.
“Hydraulic parking facilities are coming up in major metropolitan cities to cater to growing parking requirements. The parking lot proposed at Margao will mitigate the hardships faced by motorists in the commercial capital,” he said, adding that the government could consider replicating the model in other parts of Goa if it proves successful.
On the renovation of the Margao Municipal Council's heritage building, estimated to cost Rs 7.5 crore, Kamat said GSUDA has already issued the work order, and work is expected to begin shortly.
When asked about the antique chandeliers currently stored in the municipal building, the Minister assured that they would be restored to their original place once the renovation is completed.
The restoration of the heritage building and the construction of the automated parking facility are among the most significant civic infrastructure projects planned for Margao in recent years, with the parking project expected to address one of the city's longstanding urban challenges.
