SRINAGAR: The governmentis coming up with multiple parking lots in next ten years in Srinagar to overcome frequent traffic jams – which is causing difficulties to commuters and shoppers.
Government is planning to construct over 14 surface and sub-basement parking spaces and 4 more multilevel parking lots in different parts of Srinagar city.
As per the official at Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) – the parking spaces would be accommodating more than 3500 vehicles and these projects would be constructed in next ten years in the city.
As per the Master Plan approved this year by the government said that city has witnessed increase in private and public over past 10 years and it will increase more in the upcoming years.
The proposed sites where parking spaces are proposed by the government include Pantha Chowk that would accommodate 300 vehicles, Nowgam Railway Station 400 vehicles, Dalgate 200 vehicles,Hazratbal 200 vehicles, Mughal Gardens 400 vehicles,Syed Mansoor 200 vehicles and at Rambagh 100 vehicles.
Similarly, sub-surface with green turf parking spaces are proposed at Polo view 300 vehicles and at Tatoo Ground 500 vehicles would be accommodated.
At Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, sub-surface parking garages are proposed that would accommodate 200 vehicles, Khanyar 100 vehicles, Nowhatta 200 vehicles and at Western Foreshore Road of Dal and Nigeen Lake 500 vehicles would be accommodated.
According to Master Plan, in the absence of adequate organized parking space and facilities, valuable road space is being used for vehicular parking in the city.
Apart from existing 3 multilevel parking lots in Srinagar which are under construction, four more locations have been identified for the development of Multilevel parking in Srinagar.
As per the proposal these multi-level parking lots will take care of both existing on-street parking and future demand of the core areas.
The proposed sites for new multilevel lots at Shaheed Gunj that would accommodate 400 vehicles, 200 vehicles at Badamwari, 400 vehicles near Sara city centre and 300 vehicles would be accommodated at Srinagar International Airport.
Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Traffic, Tahir Gillani told Kashmir Reader that if government is planning to construct these parking lots -then it is a very good step.
“We just hope these parking slots will be constructed as soon as possible so that people as well as traffic department will take as sign of relief,” he said.

NAZIMA SIDIQ