The BMC will resume operations of the 20-storey mechanical parking tower at Breach Candy, which was shut abruptly. Located on Bhulabhai Desai Road, the facility will restart from January 1, 2025.
The sudden closure led to parking on the narrow road and left the motorists, who regularly used the facility, in the lurch. On December 18, The Free Press Journal had reported that the parking tower, with a strength of 240 vehicles, was shut amid financial dispute between the BMC and the contractor. The latter claimed that the civic body had failed to pay Rs80 lakh dues. Hence, the facility was temporarily closed down.
The parking tower, built by Akruti builders, was handed over to the BMC in 2015. However, it could be started immediately as its robotic arm was reportedly defunct and there were leakage issues too. After repairs, the mechanised tower was inaugurated by MLA Aaditya Thackeray in 2021.
The contract for operations and management of the tower was awarded by BMC’s mechanical and engineering department. Speaking with The Free Press Journal, department chief engineer Krishna Perekar said, “After orders from the civic chief, it has been decided that the operations of the parking facility will resume from January 1. The existing contractor will continue the operations as his contract is valid.”
Perekar refuted the claims regarding the pending dues. “The BMC never keeps any dues and the payment is in the process,” the engineer said. However, the operating charges of the parking facility is more than the revenue hence it was closed, said Perekar. “We will review in the next three months if the current parking charges can be increased,” he added.
