The four-storied semi-automated parking facility on the premises of Buddha Smriti Park would become operational by this Durga Puja. The facility has been lying unused for almost two years because of absence of an approach road to the Rs 15-crore structure.
Once the parking facility which can hold 480 vehicles is made operational, it would prove to be a boon for people, as the traffic near Patna Junction would be streamlined.
Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishore on Thursday inspected the facility and expressed disappointment over the slow pace of work. He instructed the officials concerned to start the facility by this Durga Puja at any cost. The problem that the authorities faced was to develop the approach road connecting Buddha Marg to its entrance, apart from clearing all encroachment created by autorickshaw drivers on the 350m stretch.
The officials present said they were unable to develop the connecting road owing to encroachment of scrap shops on both sides and autorickshaws on the stretch. Kishore on Thursday instructed to close the service of autorickshaws on the road for the next two weeks. He also instructed the officials to clear all obstacles to start the parking facility on an urgent basis.
"Anyhow, the facility should become operational by this Durga Puja so that people can use the facility in the coming festive season. So far as facing the problem of autorickhaws on the road is concerned, I have given an order to stop it for the next two weeks and also to remove the 33KV electricity pole from the stretch so that the road connecting the parking area could be repaired," said Kishore. He also instructed to clear the encroachment from the stretch for smooth completion of work.
Apart from the encroachment, heavy dumping of garbage on the stretch takes a toll on pace of work. Regarding this problem, the divisional commissioner instructed the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to remove all garbage with the help of an earthmover in the next three days.
Inspecting the facility, Kishore also found vehicles lying on the road for days. He asked the official concerned to remove the vehicles and ask for penalty from the vehicle owners.
As the parking facility is lying unused for many days, the colour of the four-storey building has also gone dull. Kishore asked the official to apply paint once again and install a light at every corner. Talking about the safety of the building, he instructed to install fire fighting equipments apart from signage to give information to the people using the facility.
Kishore also convened a high-level meeting with Patna traffic superintendent of police P.K. Das, Patna Electricity Supply Unit general manager Dilip Kumar Singh, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation project manager Amrendra Ranjan and New Capital circle executive officer Vishal Anand to instruct them to complete the work in a stipulated time frame.
