With the UT engineering department starting work on construction of a new parking behind Punjab MLA hostel on Jan Marg, the proposed underground multi-level parking at Sukhna Lake appears to be unviable due to multiple factors. The new parking area will accommodate around 300 vehicles at a time.

Multiple UT departments like urban planning, engineering, Traffic Police and MC etc have been working together to resolve the parking issue in and around Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden and Punjab and Haryana High Court.

“After completing the tender process, the UT engineering department has allotted work to construct surface parking behind Punjab MLA hostel at an approximate cost of Rs one crore. The work is likely to end by November. Efforts will be made to make it a green parking with the installation of green paver blocks and avoiding cutting of trees unless greatly required,” a senior officer of the UT administration said.

Although discussions on underground multi-level parking at Sukhna Lake were held in the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) meeting on Friday and officials concerned were asked to prepare a fresh proposal, sources in the UT said that the project did not look practically possible right from the outset. “We are working on strengthening of the existing parking area as well as looking for vacant surface area, where suitable parking can be developed in and around areas of the Sukhna Lake,” a UT official said.

Traffic rush during the weekends at the Sukhna Lake, Bird Park and Rock Garden area is a major issue.