New complex in Sector 43 can accommodate 1,174 cars and is expected to ease congestion for advocates, litigants and visitors

Chandigarh, 18 July (H.S.): Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday inaugurated the newly constructed Multi-Level Parking Facility at the District Courts Complex in Sector 43, Chandigarh.

Developed by the Chandigarh Administration at a cost of approximately ₹65.64 crore, the facility has been constructed to address the long-pending parking requirements of the District Courts. Spread over 4.5 acres, it has the capacity to accommodate 1,174 cars in its first phase.

The facility will provide organised, secure and convenient parking for advocates, litigants, judges, judicial employees, police personnel and members of the public visiting the court complex.

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, Supreme Court judges Justice A.G. Masih and Justice Sheel Nagu, Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and several serving and retired judges attended the ceremony.

Justice Deepak Sibal, Chairman of the Building Committee, Justice J.S. Puri, Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Lisa Gill, Chandigarh’s Member of Parliament, the Mayor, senior judicial officers and Chandigarh Administration officials were also present.

Addressing the gathering, Justice Surya Kant said Chandigarh held a special place in his life as it was his “Karam Bhoomi”. He described the inauguration as an emotional moment and appreciated the efforts made to strengthen the city’s judicial infrastructure.

The Chief Justice said the facility fulfilled a long-standing requirement, as advocates and litigants had faced parking difficulties for several years. He urged members of the Bar and visitors to use the new facility responsibly and maintain parking discipline.

Justice Surya Kant said infrastructure development must keep pace with society’s changing needs. Citizen-friendly facilities improve accessibility and convenience while strengthening public confidence in the justice delivery system, he added.

Emphasising that strong judicial infrastructure formed the backbone of the legal system, he said such facilities were no longer a luxury but an essential public utility. He also stressed the need to provide adequate facilities to advocates so they could focus on justice delivery without logistical difficulties.

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria congratulated the legal fraternity and said the project would significantly reduce congestion around the court complex. He described advocates as one of the strongest pillars of the justice delivery system and urged them to continue working towards affordable and accessible justice.

The parking complex is equipped with passenger lifts, CCTV cameras, fire-detection and firefighting systems, basement ventilation, pedestrian ramps, reserved spaces for persons with disabilities, driver rooms and a planned traffic circulation system.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH