Gwalior's Rs 60 crore Maharaj Bada parking still unfinished four years on, deadline extended six times

The multilevel car park being built in Maharaj Bada, Gwalior's crowded commercial area, has not been completed even after four years. The deadline for the project, which costs about Rs 60 crore, has been extended six times so far.

The project was to be completed in 2022, but the work was not finished on time, and the date kept slipping afterwards. The target is now to complete construction by December 2026. A penalty of Rs 3 lakh a month is being imposed on the company concerned for the delay.

With the car park not yet operational, traffic and parking problems persist in Bada and the surrounding markets. Parking at Bada is needed not only by traders but also by the neighbouring markets. Congestion here directly hurts business. Customers have difficulty reaching the market and finding parking, which also affects trade.

According to the construction company, there are two main reasons for the delay. First, working in a dense and busy area like Maharaj Bada is challenging. Traffic cannot be stopped or restricted during the day, so most of the work has to be done at night. Second, a large amount of water seeped into the car park's basement, which affected construction. Smart City officials have said a solution is being sought so that the basement does not flood again.

The car park is being built about 13.5 metres deep and will have three floors. As planned, it will hold about 300 four-wheelers and 200 two-wheelers. It is expected to bring relief to customers and traders coming to Bada and to the surrounding markets.

The Chamber of Commerce has demanded that the car park be opened soon. According to chamber president Praveen Agrawal, construction of two floors of the car park has been completed. Smart City management has assured that they will be opened after a trial. The aim is to have at least two floors operational from January 1. The upper floor can then be completed. Chamber office-bearers are in constant touch with Smart City officials on the matter.