The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to transfer the mechanised parking lot on Janglee Maharaj (J M) Road to Pune Metro, following a break-in incident that underscored the need for better utilisation of the unused facility. The PMC will draft a proposal and submit it to the standing committee for approval.
The decision comes after a prolonged request from Pune Metro, which commenced operations on the Vanaz-Ramwadi route and has been seeking additional parking facilities since 2022. The Pune Metro had proposed an 80:20 revenue-sharing formula with the PMC to manage the parking lot and cater to its commuters’ needs.
A senior PMC official stated, “We received a letter from Pune Metro to hand over the parking lot on a revenue-sharing basis. They proposed an 80:20 revenue-sharing formula. We have decided to present the proposal to the standing committee. Once approved, we will hand over the parking lot to Pune Metro, who will manage and maintain it for commuter use. The J M Road mechanised parking lot has been unused since the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The mechanised parking facility on J M Road, one of Pune’s busiest thoroughfares, was designed by the PMC in 2007 as a 20-storey vertical structure capable of accommodating 80 cars. The project, costing ₹2.4 crore, was intended to alleviate parking issues in the area but failed to gain traction due to ample on-road parking availability. After being managed by a private contractor until 2012, the facility was sealed in 2015 by the then additional municipal commissioner Om Prakash Bakoria due to its illegal use by Sai Service Station Limited.
For Pune Metro, inadequate parking has been a persistent issue since the service commenced on 6th March 2022. In response, Pune Metro sought to repurpose the underutilised mechanised parking lot on J M Road. After a year of consideration, the PMC has acknowledged Pune Metro’s demand, catalysed by a recent break-in incident on 22nd June, which highlighted the facility’s vulnerability and lack of use. During the incident, a thief evaded arrest by climbing a building within the parking lot, leading to a dramatic chase involving the police and fire brigade. An official from Pune Metro commented, “We have written to the PMC requesting the transfer of the J M Road parking lot due to our pressing need for commuter parking. We await the PMC’s decision on the matter.”
The mechanised parking lot’s handover is poised to address the parking shortfall faced by Pune Metro commuters and ensure the facility’s optimal use. Currently, the PMC provides approximately 1,550 to 1,600 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water, ensuring a supply of 200 to 210 litres per capita per day, through 222 water distribution stations. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance urban infrastructure and services.
The PMC’s decision marks a critical step in addressing the city’s evolving transportation and infrastructure needs, ensuring that existing assets are effectively utilised for the benefit of Pune’s residents and commuters.
