Published On : Tue, Oct 23rd, 2018

NIT’s parking plaza in Sitabuldi shuts down, hotel starts in its place, slyly!

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Nagpur: The vehicle owners, hassled by parking woes, were expecting a sort of relief as media in city had reported that the NIT operated Parking Plaza at Variety Square in Sitabuldi was all set to reopen soon. However, the hopes of relief expected by the vehicle owners, especially the car owners, were dashed as the parking plaza has reportedly been given to a group of hoteliers to run their hotel at the place.

It may be recalled that Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) had constructed the parking plaza at the centrally located Variety Square in Sitabuldi on BOT basis. In view of parking woes increasing day by day in city, the parking plaza could have been a relief for car owners visiting the area. But the multi-level parking plaza which was NIT operated had been shut since past one and a half year due to no operator coming forth for its maintenance or faulty design.

Now, it is learnt, the builder of this parking plaza has reportedly handed over the place to Gangakashi Group to run their hotel. A recent raid had brought the hotel in limelight.

The Second Capital City of Nagpur has been witnessing parking menace especially in busy market areas such as Sitabuldi as well as Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth. Car parking, many times haphazard, was creating traffic problems at many places. Faced with the tricky situation, the NIT had planned to construct the car parking plaza adjacent to Cinemax at Variety Square on BOT basis. Tenders were floated. But the NIT’s plan of multi-level parking plaza found no takers. Finally, the NIT gave tender to one of its ‘favourites’ but ‘controversial’ builders to build the parking plaza on BOT basis.

The said builder constructed the parking plaza in such a flawed manner that no big car could enter the plaza. According to NIT sources, the builder deliberately made such faulty design so that the parking plaza would be a “flop” and a way could be paved for other business.

According to NIT sources, the operator of the parking plaza was given freedom to fix the parking charges. The operator was given a contract for three years to run the parking plaza. The operator was to pay NIT Rs 7.51 lakh per year. The operator paid Rs 5 lakh in advance. After completion of paper work between the NIT and the operator, the parking plaza was supposed to function. A ‘promise’ of arrangement for parking of 72 cars was doled out. But even after lapse of one and a half year, the parking plaza was not started.

The NIT has reportedly allotted 400 sq ft place to the builder for constructing the parking plaza for his business. The builder in turn handed over the place to Gangakashi Group for running a hotel. The hotel was raided a few days back.

Car owners would have relieved over the parking arrangement at parking plaza and were ready to shell out the parking fees. But all their hopes were dashed with the running of a hotel at the parking plaza.