September 24, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 11, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has relaxed its restrictions on building multi-storey parking plazas in the city in view of the lukewarm response from the construction industry to the proposition.

A senior CDA official told Dawn on Sunday that fresh bids have been called for the construction of four such parking plazas allowing the constructor one floor space for commercial purposes.

Previously the CDA wanted the plazas to be exclusively for car parking purposes.

“But now we have reinvited the firms offering them the option of constructing two basements, four storeys for car parking and one for commercial purposes like offices, etc.,” he said.

“We have selected the sites and will shortly call bids from the interesting firms, so that the project could be launched as soon as possible,” he said.

He said earlier the CDA had planned to build three parking plazas but now there would be four — three in Blue Area, Jinnah Avenue and one at Aabpara.

The official said the parking plazas would be constructed on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. The eligible firms would build the plazas on land provided by the CDA. Each plaza would have the capacity to accommodate 1,200 vehicles.

The plazas would be constructed on the existing three parking lots located in front of Sogo Restaurant, Savour Food, and near Muslim Commercial Bank in Blue Area.

“After making some changes to our previous plan, we have asked interested parties to come up with their own plans which would be presented before the CDA board for approval. If there is any deficiency in the plan or they are not in conformity with the CDA policy, the board will suggest some amendments for ratification,” he said.

The problem of car parking in different commercial areas especially in Blue Area has intensified due to increasing number of vehicles in the capital.

A source said CDA’s plan to construct multi-storeyed parking plazas would minimise the problem in Blue Area. Almost all multi-storeyed commercial plazas in the area were constructed without keeping in mind the future car parking problems.

None of the commercial plazas in Blue Area have their own parking facilities for those working in these buildings as well as visitors.