MMRDA parking lot too expensive: Motorists

Motorists prefer to give the Rs 40-crore MMRDA facility at BKC a skip and use parking areas offered by other agencies or simply park their vehicles on the road instead, due to the steep parking fee

MMRDA parking lot too expensive: Motorists

For every vehicle owner in Mumbai, the search for parking space while out on official work, on a shopping spree or a simple family dinner is a much-dreaded task.

Of the several parking facilities available to motorists in the city, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority's (MMRDA) multi-storey parking at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) appears to be the last option on the list.

The Rs 40 crore multi-storey parking facility at BKC - boasting an 800 car capacity - opened to the public in December 2009 by the MMRDA, does not seem to be as successful as officials have been claiming.

Motorists prefer to give the MMRDA facility at BKC a wide berth and use parking areas offered by other agencies or simply park their vehicles on the road instead, due to the steep parking fee.

'Just too high'

Speaking to MiD DAY, motorist Rahul Dighe, said, "Whenever I come to BKC, I prefer to park my car on the road because MMRDA charges Rs 17 per hour and Rs 12 for every additional hour, which I feel is quite steep compared to other parking facilities."

However, MMRDA Joint Project Director, Dilip Kawatkar, said, "It is true that our parking rates are higher compared to some of the parking zones manned by BMC in Mumbai, but the benefit of our parking facility is that it is sophisticated, hi-tech and safe compared to others where at times vehicles are damaged and proper care is not taken."

MMRDA has another multi-storey car parking at a mall in Nariman Point, with a capacity for over 850 cars, and the parking fees are the same.

The MMRDA has appointed a private firm to manage the multi-storey car parking at BKC for a period of three years, and every month the contractor has to pay MMRDA Rs 21 lakh, apart from the profit the contractor makes.

An official from MMRDA on condition of anonymity told MiD DAY that response to the parking zone is quite bad and that no more than 500 cars are parked at the facility, due to which the contractor is facing huge losses.u00a0u00a0

Exclusively owned

MMRDA's multi-storey parking facility at BKC was constructed on a plot measuring 15,000 sqm, which had been allotted to East India Hotel Limited in 2001.

According to a pre-condition agreed upon by both parties East India Hotel Limited and MMRDA on completion of the hotel project measuring 60,000 sqm, free of cost, MMRDA would be entitled to construct a separate multi-storey structure with a minimum built-up area of 30,000 sqm.

The multi-storey car parking facility was constructed and is exclusively owned by MMRDA with a capacity to accommodate 800 cars.

The Other Side

MMRDA Joint Project Director, Dilip Kawatkar, said, "It is true that our parking rates are higher compared to some of the parking zones manned by BMC in Mumbai, but the benefit of our parking facility is that it is sophisticated, hi-tech and safe compared to others where at times vehicles are damaged and proper care is not taken."

Rs 17
Hourly rate of parking at MMRDA's parking lot at BKC (G block)

Rs 17
Parking charges for first hour at CR2 mall, Nariman Point

Rs 15
Parking charges for an hour at Atria Mall, Worli

Rs 20
Hourly rate of parking at Inorbit Mall, Malad

Pay and park rates
BMC rates (May 2010) at various parking lots in the city
Two wheelers
1 hr - Rs 1
2 hrs - Rs 2
3 hrs - Rs 3
Beyond 4 hrs - Rs 5
Four wheelers
1 hr - R5
2 hrs - R8
3 hrs - R11
5 hrs - R17

Most expensive cities to Park
Tokyo: 54 Euros (Rs 3,240)
Copenhagen: 26 Euros (Rs 1,560)u00a0
New York: 25 Euros (Rs 1,500)
London: 19 Euros (Rs 1,140)
Hong Kong: 19 Euros (Rs 1,140)