Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 15: After months of stagnation, construction work on the much-awaited Hampankatta Multilevel Car Parking Complex at the old bus stand in Mangaluru has finally gathered pace over the past two months. With the current progress, the project is expected to be completed within the next two years.

The multilevel car parking facility, aimed at addressing Mangaluru city’s long-standing parking woes, has been a dream project for years. The foundation stone for the structure was laid on November 2, 2021.

The project is being developed on a 2.10-acre site and will include both parking and a commercial complex. It is being executed under the Smart City Mission through a private partnership model based on the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) framework.

Under this model, the contractor is responsible for financing, constructing, and operating the facility. Revenue will be generated through rent and parking fees, while a fixed annual payment will be made to the local administration. After 30 years, the ownership of the facility will be transferred to the local body as per BOT terms.

Initially, the project had suffered delays due to various reasons, but recent administrative interventions and follow-up actions have revived its pace.

According to Smart City general manager Arun Prabha, nearly 20% of the work has been completed. “The piling and foundation works are done, and the slab construction is now in progress,” he said.

If the same momentum continues, Mangaluru city could soon see its first multilevel car parking complex becoming a reality, bringing relief to motorists struggling with space constraints in the city centre.