Underground parking proposed to ease traffic

Integrated complex to connect Kursura and TU 142

Haphazardly parked vehicles leave little space for traffic on Beach Road in Visakhapatnam.

Plans for an Integrated Museum and Tourism Complex connecting the Submarine Museum and TU 142 Aircraft Museum close to which the Sea Harrier is also likely to be set up with underground parking are picking up pace with the preparation and presentation of initial designs.

The extension of the underground parking area up to YMCA and also including behind Rajiv Smriti Bhavan and in front of the Andhra University Convention Centre are now proposed . The parking area is estimated to be around 1.1 km and width of 18 meters to accommodate about 900 cars and 300 to 400 two-wheelers.

The underground was being planned in an innovative manner, connectivity will have wall panels, shopping etc.

Changing the elevation of Rajiv Smriti Bhavan to align with the submarine and aircraft museum is also proposed.

Designs

The designs are expected to be finalised in 15 days after which they will be presented before the Chief Minister, according to VUDA Vice-Chairman P. Basanth Kumar.

The underground parking idea was being pursued actively as getting land for multi-level parking was proving difficult and under the Smart City Mission ₹ 60 crore was earmarked for multi-level parking, he told reporters here.

Project cost

The entire project is estimated to cost ₹60 crore.

The Government has already issued a GO allocating ₹20 crore to the submarine museum and ₹10 crore to the proposed Sea Harrier museum.