MARGAO
More than a decade after the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) first conceived a multi-storeyed parking facility to address the city's chronic parking shortage, the long-delayed project has finally received a major boost.
The Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) on Monday issued a Letter of Acceptance to Nagpur-based M/s SMS Ltd for the construction and commissioning of a Rs 7.77 crore automated electro-mechanical six-level parking facility in the commercial capital.
The project, which will come up on municipal land behind the Margao Municipal Garden, is expected to take at least one year to complete from the date work commences.
According to official sources, GSUDA awarded the contract for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the six-level overground Puzzle Car Parking System to the Nagpur-based company after it emerged as the successful bidder. While the tender floated by GSUDA was estimated at around Rs 8 crore, the contract has been awarded for Rs 7.77 crore, excluding GST.
The facility will be Goa’s first automated puzzle parking system, marking a significant step towards modern urban infrastructure and smart parking solutions in the state.
Under the terms of the contract, the company will not only construct the facility but will also be responsible for its operation and maintenance for a period of five years after completion and handover.
A project delayed by a decade
The multi-level parking project has had a long and chequered history. The foundation stone was first laid in 2015 during the tenure of former MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva. However, despite initial enthusiasm, the project failed to take off.
The council headed by then Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai attempted to move the project forward, but the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime created unforeseen complications. The Kolhapur-based contractor that had originally secured the contract withdrew from the project, citing the fact that the estimated project cost did not adequately account for GST-related expenses.
For nearly five years thereafter, the municipal council repeatedly floated tenders in an effort to attract bidders, but without success.
In 2021, the new council under then Chairperson Lyndon Monteiro resolved to hand over execution of the project to GSUDA. The MMC also transferred municipal funds to the agency to facilitate implementation. However, before the project could be tendered and executed, its design and layout underwent revisions in 2022, leading to further delays.
Public opposition and design changes
The project also generated controversy when reports surfaced that a restaurant was proposed on the top floor of the parking facility. The proposal triggered protests from local residents and civic activists, who questioned the necessity of a commercial establishment within a public parking structure. Following public opposition, the restaurant component was eventually dropped from the revised plans.
Capacity to ease parking woes
A senior GSUDA official familiar with the project said the automated facility is expected to accommodate around 100 cars in addition to parking space for two-wheelers.
“Once completed, the facility will provide substantial relief to the parking congestion in the city centre and partially address the longstanding parking woes of Margao,” the official said.
However, officials acknowledge that a single parking facility may not be sufficient to meet the growing demand for parking in the commercial capital. Urban planners have already identified the Old Margao Bus Stand area as a potential location for a second multi-level parking project.
Such a facility could cater to visitors and employees frequenting the South Goa Police Headquarters, nearby educational institutions, banks, the post office, the Old Collectorate building, Gomant Vidya Niketan and other major establishments in the vicinity.
