Parking in Mumbai has been a headache. So, to solve the issue, BMC planned to build parking lots. But till now no parking lots have been completed, as the realty firms have failed to complete construction and hand it over to the BMC.
According to DNA, BMC which was supposed to have nearly 56,000 car parking slots, a dismally small number given the volume of vehicles, has barely managed to scrape out around 8,500. The blame rests in part with the authority, and in bits with the tardy pace of construction by builders. In 2006-07, the city authorities decided to create some parking slots for Mumbaikars through redevelopment projects. The BMC, under 1991 Development Control Regulation 33 (24), offered builders extra floor-space index, that is, plot area on which one can actually construct. And, in return, the builders were to hand over some parking space to the authority.
In order to seize the opportunity, 88 builders leaped at the chance to have additional space to build on. Of this, 9 builders were rejected, and BMC allowed 79 builders to construct residential or commercial buildings in the city from Mulund to Mahalaxmi. The BMC hoped to get 79 car parks with 55,742 slots, but till now the civic body has got 26 car parks, with a grand total of 21,778 slots. But, even with the 26 parking lots, BMC has only appointed 14 contractors, which can operate 8,526 slots. As per BMC's own records, there are a total of 146 parking lots across the city with a capacity to accommodate 34,808 vehicles.
Civic data shows that most of the 79 builders were sent their Letters of Intention by the BMC before 2014, and BMC says it hasn't received any Intimation of Disapproval (IOD) from any of the 53 builders who, for all practical purposes, have not honoured their commitments yet, reported the DNA. IOD is an important authorisation given to the builder by the BMC which allows builders to redevelop an existing structure. Among these builders are Oberoi (plot at Mulund), DB Realty (Lower Parel), Dosti Corporation (Sewree) and Omkar (Mahalaxmi).
"The builders don't take the occupation certificate (OC) from the BMC, their project remains under development for years and they don't hand over parking lots to the civic body. There are thousands of buildings in the city without OC," Congress corporator Asif Zakaria told the DNA.
