Evolve concrete plan for parking in each sector: HC to Noida Authority

The Allahabad High Court, on April 20, 2017, directed the CEO of Noida Authority to come up with a concrete plan, for providing multi-level parking lots in each sector of the city. It also sought a written undertaking that stilt spaces in buildings, will not be allowed to be used ‘for any purpose other than parking of vehicles’.
A division bench comprising chief justice DB Bhosle and justice Yashwant Verma, passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Noida resident Shrikant Vaidya, who drew the court’s attention towards the absence of adequate parking facilities and the resultant traffic congestion in the city adjoining the national capital. According to counsel Priyanka Midha, who has been appointed as the amicus curae, the court issued the directions in the presence of Noida CEO Amit Mohan Prasad and a number of other officials of the Authority.
Prasad, who took over on April 13, 2017, was appearing in person, following the court order of April 11, whereby, the Noida CEO had been directed to remain physically present on this date.
The court expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Noida CEO’s submission, made orally, that as many as seven multi-level parking projects for the city were underway. The court remarked “There are about 160 sectors in Noida and the city’s parking problem will not be solved, by only seven multi-level parking lots.” Taking note of Prasad’s submission that the seven projects were aimed at providing parking space for nearly 13,000 vehicles in the city’s commercial localities, the court added that the Authority must come up with plans to provide parking facilities in residential areas, as well.
“Why don’t your officers visit countries like Singapore and learn from them, how to provide multi-level parking near residential areas, so that no one has to park his car on the road,” the court asked. It also suggested that the Authority may hire a professional firm, which could conduct surveys to ascertain how much parking space was needed in each sector. The court fixed May 18, 2017, as the next date of hearing in the matter.
By: Housing.com/news