JOIN USHassle-free parking for tourist vehicles soon
If all goes according to the plan, parking woes at tourist spots in the heart of the city will be addressed in six months.
Revenue and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad, on Friday, laid the foundation for the proposed mass tourist and transit facility for visitors to Palace, Zoo and Chamundi Hill, at Dasara exhibition grounds here.
The project includes a parking plaza at an estimated cost of Rs 1.97 crore on 10 acres of land and a ‘tourist plaza’ at a cost of Rs 1.69 crore, the works on which is expected to start in May. Nirmithi Kendra has been tasked with the work on the parking lot, while the Tourism department will initiate other works.
Finding parking place was turning out to be a ordeal for tourist vehicles, owing to lack of space. Even if the vehicles were stationed in the parking lots at different tourist places, the tourists had to shell separate fee at every lot.
To find a solution, Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) came forward to lend space at the Dasara exhibition grounds, off MG Road. Besides being an ideal location, it is useful for visitors to both, the Palace and Zoo.
In all, 800 two-wheelers, 500 cars and 30 buses can be parked at the lot, said Chief Executive Officer of KEA N M Shashikumar. The proposed tourist plaza will offer a ‘single window’ service, as it is planned to set-up ticket counters for all tourist places in the city. The tourists will also get information on various destinations.
The KEA has found timely favour in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, under which the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) has evinced interest in building modern toilets. It has planned to build over 20 toilets at an estimated cost of Rs 70 lakh and will also maintain it. Currently, the CII is involved in building toilets atop the Chamundi Hill.
The exterior of the exhibition grounds is also set for a makeover with a proposal submitted to the Tourism department to build a welcome arch facing M G Road, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.13 crore. It will help attract visitors from both the sides.
The KEA also intends to build permanent stalls, matching international standards,
besides road asphaltation works, laying of UGD system, and development of a children’s play area at a cost Rs 20 crore.
KEA Chairman R Murthy, Deputy Commissioner C Shikha and other officials were present.