Multi-storey car parking lies idle

The port city's first multi-storey car parking, located in New Market area, is lying idle for around a year due to a mechanical failure and a shortage of operators. This has led to regular traffic congestion in front of the market.

Chattogram Development Authority built the multi-storey car parking at a cost of more than Tk 2 crore to reduce traffic congestion in front of the market in 2017. Built with technical assistance from China, this seven-storey parking lot has the facility to accommodate 29 cars at the same time.

During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found that most cars have to wait in line on the street before entering the market as the parking lies inoperative.

Azher Uddin, a driver who parked on the road after failing to find a parking space, said, "We would not have parked the car on the road if there were ample parking spaces."

We have informed CDA both verbally and on paper regarding the issue but to no avail. Now, it has become our liability.

— Mohammed Sagir President of the Bipani Bitan Merchants Welfare Committee

Syed Khurshed Alam, a shop owner in New Market, informed this correspondent that the parking has remained closed since June last year.

"During the first two years of its construction, we benefited from the facility as it was being operated properly," he said.

Mohammed Sagir, president of the Bipani Bitan Merchants Welfare Committee, expressed his frustration regarding the issue and said, "We have informed CDA both verbally and on paper regarding the issue but to no avail. Now, it has become our liability."

"Both customers and traders will benefit from it if the parking space goes into operation again," he added.

Contacted, Mesbah Uddin, executive engineer of CDA, said, "The high-end technology required for this expensive parking space has become impossible for us to operate due to its existing mechanical faults and lack of adequate management experience."

"However, we are in discussions with the market shopkeepers' association to reopen the parking. Hopefully, we will decide on the matter soon. We are also trying to lease this parking lot to private companies for maintenance purposes," he added.

Meanwhile, experts and urban planners said the parking lot has now become a burden as CDA constructed it without proper planning.

Shahinul Islam Khan, former chief city planner of CDA, said, "CDA built this expensive parking lot to make a show out of development projects, despite being inexperienced in such operations. There has been no supervision from CDA's end due to its lack of a maintenance unit, leading the parking facility to remain inoperative."