New Delhi: Despite its prime location in Connaught Place, Delhi’s pioneering underground multilevel parking facility at Palika Place, built in 1979, is in urgent need of attention. Due to its deteriorating infrastructure, the parking remains underutilised. The ground floor, housing New Delhi Municipal Council’s (NDMC) offices, remains relatively well-maintained within the three-level structure. However, basements 1 and 2 present an alarming picture. The infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, with concrete material constantly falling from the ceiling, corroded iron rods visible everywhere, widespread water seepage, and poorly lit areas that have become unofficial dumping grounds for scrap materials. Non-functional lifts have been accumulating rubbish while an unpleasant odour pervades the premises. The facility’s unsafe conditions are evident too, as warning messages on pillars caution visitors about potential roof collapse and advise parking at their own risk. Moreover, LED displays at the entrance opposite Palika Bazar are non-functioning and fail to show parking occupancy information. A trader from the market who uses the facility said that till Monday, there were posters pasted everywhere asking vehicle owners to read the parking conditions beforehand. “They categorically stated that the condition of parking is poor and NDMC will not be liable to pay for any losses incurred if a vehicle is damaged. These posters were pasted after a vehicle’s rearview mirror broke when a chunk of concrete plaster from the roof collapsed and damaged it,” said the trader. He added, “As the lifts aren’t working, people have been parking cars and taking the stairs to go upstairs. They can get injured easily in the process. The parking is under NDMC, and it can’t risk lives by leaving the site unattended.” A spot visit by TOI on Wednesday revealed that the ceiling of basement 1 was completely damaged on one side, as a result of which no vehicles were parked. Worse, rainwater had accumulated in various corners due to constant seepage near the shaft area, built in the middle of the parking lot. Due to waterlogging, the flooring was also damaged in several places. In one corner, several old vehicles were parked, covered with a layer of dust, possibly unattended for years. Basement 2 was almost secluded, with just three-four cars parked near the ramp. The infrastructure here was in a poorer condition than in the first basement, with exit areas totally damaged, duct covers missing, and heaps of iron pipes lying in a dark corner. Even the concrete on the pillars was falling off in places. Electric charging points, too, were damaged and non-operational.“It is a multi-level underground parking facility designed to accommodate a large number of vehicles – more than 1,000 cars and 500 scooters. But one basement remains unutilised while the other is only partially used. No one, especially a woman, would want to come here alone after dark,” said a visitor. A NDMC official said the council aims to carry out repairs at the site soon. “We are in process of issuing a tender for carrying the repair work at this place covering all lapses,” he said.
