Metro project authorities hope to tide over this by providing last-mile connectivity to commuters
The much talked about upcoming mass transit system in Ahmedabad, the metro rail, will not have parking facilities at around 60% of the stations. From March 2019, metro trains will run between six stations of the east-west corridor, but of them, only two stations will have parking facilities.
A senior official in the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Limited said, "Around 60% of the total metro terminals do not have parking facility. In the priority reach stretch, only two stations – Vastral Gam and Amraiwadi stations – have parking facilities."
However, officials have assured that commuters wouldn't face any trouble. All the stations in the city have been designed such that distances between them are shorter than in other cities.
"Around 60% of the stations have drop-in facility. We have big parking plots where we have got some space. Our stations are designed in a way such that the distance between two stations is 800 to 900 meters," said IP Gautam, managing director, GMRC.
According to the MD, the company wants to rope in private players to manage parking. "For everything, GMRC has trained their staff at the best places available. And, for parking space allotment, there is no guideline available. There are no specific rules for the users who fail to pay parking fees. There are no norms for money recovery," added Gautam.
"We have purchased a huge space by paying Rs 10 crore for the land. There will be an automated system of parking meters. Still, it is debatable that all those who park in the space are users of the metro," explained Gautam. However, he did say that the project will not be affected due to the parking options.
According to professor HM Shivanand Swamy of CEPT University, parking should be managed for mobility. "For mobility, managing parking is very critical. Both on-street and off-street parking must be managed properly. One should provide whatever limited parking space is available. By doing this, the most valuable space on the road can be used in the most optimal way. The most optimal way is to provide per person area. The road must be used effectively and not for stationary purposes," said Swamy.
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- Our stations are designed in a way such that the distance between two stations is 800 to 900 meters,” said IP Gautam, MD of GMRC.
- There’ll be automa-ted system of parking meters. It is debatable that all those who park in the space are users of the metro, he said.
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