MCD plans parking lot below school

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has plans to construct an underground multi-level parking lot inside the premises of its primary school in Rajouri Garden.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has plans to construct an underground multi-level parking lot inside the premises of its primary school in Rajouri Garden.

HT Image

This decision flouts a 2004 Delhi High Court order, which said MCD school premises should not be used for any other purpose.

The MCD has already appointed a consultant to design the parking lot. “The project will be completed in 18 months,” said an MCD official.

The decision was taken to address the acute shortage of parking space, said Vijendra Gupta, chairman of MCD’s standing committee. “There is always heavy congestion in the area. The parking lot will accommodate about 500 cars,” he said.

The proposal has angered the opposition Congress councillors. “There have been instances of children in MCD schools being molested by outsiders. On one hand the MCD is planning to appoint security guards, at the same time it is planning to construct a parking lot inside a school,” said opposition leader J.K. Sharma.

But Gupta was ready with the answers. “How else do we address the city’s parking problem? And we don’t think the parking lot will compromise the security of children in any way. We are planning to make the entry and exit points outside the school premises.”