Kolkata, 02 November (H.S.) : In a major step towards providing a permanent solution to the persistent traffic congestion and severe parking crisis in the city, the West Bengal government has decided to construct state-of-the-art multi-level car parking facilities in busy commercial areas. Driven by the vision of a modernized and beautified urban landscape, the State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department has signed two separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the central agency NITCON Limited.

Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul officially announced the project recently. According to department officials, the government's primary objective is to transform Kolkata into a modern, eco-friendly, and cleaner metropolis while strictly preserving its rich heritage and historical architecture. The strategic decision to introduce multi-level car parking systems aims to alleviate the unregulated influx of vehicles and mitigate acute parking shortages, particularly around key commercial hubs, major hospital premises, and heavily crowded transit points like bus and metro terminuses.

According to sources within the department, the project will be executed methodically. Rather than commencing construction haphazardly, a detailed and comprehensive field survey will be conducted first to assess the ground realities. Based on the survey findings, suitable locations will be identified. Subsequently, crucial parameters such as the total number of parking facilities required, the overall project budget, the estimated investment, and the precise implementation roadmap will be finalized. The entire project will be rolled out in a phased manner, leveraging a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model integrated with Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based smart parking solutions. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce illegal parking on main arterial roads, thereby increasing traffic speed and ensuring a smoother, safer experience for pedestrians.

Alongside the parking infrastructure, a massive beautification drive will be undertaken across major thoroughfares, heritage zones, parks, markets, and riverfront areas. The comprehensive plan includes designing aesthetically pleasing road dividers and systematically removing hazardous and visually polluting overhead cables. A senior official from the Urban Development Department remarked that the current biggest headache for Kolkata is the ever-increasing vehicular traffic coupled with a severe lack of designated parking spaces, which peaks in commercial centers. The official added that the optimal utilization of land through the PPP model and the implementation of ICT-based smart parking management will not only reduce traffic congestion but also play a significant role in boosting the non-tax revenue of the municipal corporation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh