The Greater Chennai Corporation has invited bids to develop two multi‑level parking facilities—planned for Thiruvottiyur and Kodambakkam—aimed at decongesting roadways and reducing on‑street parking woes. Both projects will employ a design‑build‑finance‑operate‑transfer (DBFOT) model, ensuring private sector investment and streamlined management over a 25‑year concession period.
At Thiruvottiyur, the proposed facility will occupy a 1,563 sqm plot adjoining the municipality dispensary. It is designed to accommodate 1,052 two‑wheelers alongside a commercial complex at an estimated cost of ₹15.98 crore. In Kodambakkam, on a one‑acre GCC‑owned site near the bridge, a 1,667 sqm structure will serve 422 two‑wheelers and 75 four‑wheelers, budgeted at ₹17.86 crore. Both facilities will offer automated access, real‑time digital displays, CCTV surveillance, drinking water, toilets and direct road entrances with automated payments. GCC officials emphasise these new stations will be fully automated, including security provisions and user convenience amenities, in alignment with sustainable mobility principles. The commissioner confirmed tenders have been released, with construction to commence shortly. These developments are part of Chennai’s broader effort to foster pedestrian‑friendly, low‑carbon urban spaces.
However, lessons from T Nagar’s Smart City multi‑level parking facility remain pertinent. Despite a ₹40.79 crore investment, usage averages only 70 vehicles daily out of a possible 222, with four of six floors unused, one of three lifts non‑functional and ground floors mismanaged. Authorities plan to apply stricter monitoring and performance benchmarks to ensure new facilities avoid similar pitfalls. The deputy mayor outlined longer‑term ambitions, including future MLPs at Marina, Anna Nagar and additional T Nagar locations. By integrating automation, surveillance, and effective PPP oversight, the city aims to combat traffic congestion while advancing equitable, eco‑friendly urban design.
Chennai’s multi‑level parking strategy aligns with its green‑city agenda, offering scalable solutions to parking scarcity and urban clutter. With the twin tenders initiated, the forthcoming challenge lies in delivering functional, well‑utilised facilities that serve the public interest while preserving operational efficiency.
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