The proposed multi-level parking lot at Siruseri off Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) will have a food court, children’s play area and space for a commercial complex.
The parking lot that will come up on five acres of land belonging to the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) will accommodate 2,000 cars and 50 buses.
Sources at TNRDC said tenders will soon be floated for the appointment of a consultant to prepare a detailed project report. The parking lot is likely to be constructed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis for a minimum of 20 years.
A total of Rs. 1 crore has been earmarked for the preparation of the project report, which will study various factors including parking fares, how much space should be set apart for commercial development and the number of years needed for the BOT.
“Apart from the parking lot, we are looking at additional facilities as well, since Rajiv Gandhi Salai does not have much in terms of entertainment. The lot could also have an amphitheatre depending on the space available. We are trying to make the parking lot completely robot controlled. If that works out, it would be the first of its kind in the country. The commercial space will give the contractor additional income to offset the controlled parking fee,” the source explained.
At present, hundreds of cars and commercial vehicles are parked on the service lanes along Rajiv Gandhi Salai, which has around 1 lakh vehicles traversing it daily. These parked vehicles could be moved to the lot, said sources at TNRDC.
R. Anandan of the Rajiv Gandhi Salai Lorry Owners’ Association, said trucks and other heavy vehicles too, should be allowed to be parked in the lot.
“Since we are not allowed to ply during the day on city roads, the parking facility could help trucks wait till after 10 p.m. Hundreds of trucks ply every day in that area,” he said.
