Foundation laid for multi-level automated car parking in Tirupati

TIRUPATI: The long search for space to park vehicles here may soon be a thing of the past. The Municipal Corporation (MCT) has begun construction of a multi-level automated parking facility in a vacant site close to the railway station and central bus station in the heart of the city.

The long-awaited facility, undertaken at a cost of Rs 50 crore as part of the Smart City project, would be completed in 18 months. The foundation stone was laid on a 0.75-acre vacant land near TTD's pilgrim amenities complex - Vishnu Nivasam – jointly by city legislator Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, Mayor Sirisha, and municipal commissioner Anupama Anjali.

Roadside parking is the norm here due to a lack of designated parking areas. 'No parking' sign boards are a curse on motorists and are often ignored. Many business establishments do not have parking lots. Many park their vehicles on roadsides that cause traffic jams. The civic body was looking for a suitable location in recent years.

The seven-storeyed parking complex will offer space for 373 four-wheelers and over 160 two-wheelers at a time. It will have round-the-clock parking. Four levels will be designated for parking and the remaining for two multiplexes and other commercial activities.

As the facility is located between the bus station and the railway station, it would be beneficial for the visiting pilgrims too,'' city commissioner Anupama Anjali told Deccan Chronicle.

According to the officials, the parking facility would be useful also for pilgrims who want to visit local temples such as Govindaraja Swamy, Kodandarama Swamy around the pilgrim city. The civic body would allow vehicles to be parked on an hourly basis when it is completed.

"MCT intends to erect an automated multi-level parking structure rather than a traditional one. Vehicles can be parked on steel pallets that can be carried up and down to different levels for parking or retrieval. Automated multi-level parking systems provide improved approaches for parking and taking back a vehicle from the facility. With a powerful system of pallets, elevators and signaling systems, their outstanding technology streamlines vehicle parking and retrieval," the commissioner said.