Mumbai: The BMC has kicked off the construction of a state-of-the-art Multi-Level Robotic Parking Tower (MRPT) at Hutatma Chowk. The ceremonial groundbreaking for this automated parking system took place on Wednesday, with former BJP Corporator Makarand Narwekar presiding over the event.

Once completed, the facility will provide much-needed relief to the area by offering a parking capacity for 194 cars, easing the parking woes in one of Mumbai’s busiest areas, claims the civic official.

As part of its ambitious plan to address the city's growing parking challenges, the BMC is moving forward with the construction of multiple parking facilities across key locations. These include the BMC’s Engineering Hub in Worli, near Mumbadevi Temple in Kalbadevi, opposite Matunga Central Railway Station, and at Hutatma Chowk near the Bombay High Court.

The total cost of these projects is estimated at Rs 504.19 crore. After facing strong opposition from local citizens, the proposal for a 23-floor MRPT in front of Matunga East Railway Station has recently been scrapped. However, the BMC has officially commenced work on the first underground MRPT in South Mumbai.

As per the current plan, the MRPT at Hutatma Chowk will feature four underground levels, with construction costs amounting to Rs 70 crore. The site boasts a 12-meter access road on the western side and a 7-meter access road on the eastern side. Vehicles will enter from the eastern side and exit from the western side, ensuring smooth traffic flow.

The area above ground will serve as a holding area, where vehicles will be temporarily stationed before entering the parking facility. Utilising advanced lift technology, cars will be automatically transported to their designated parking spots. The system is designed for efficiency, with a retrieval time of approximately three minutes.

Narwekar has called for more MRPT in key areas like Fort and near Regal Cinema, which are vital infrastructure hubs. "The Hutatma Chowk parking facility is a great step towards easing congestion near the Bombay High Court, but we continue to push for similar underground parking solutions at Kala Ghoda and Regal Cinema, which see heavy footfall. With ongoing area improvements, now is the time to act."

He also stressed the need for EV charging points at these facilities and insisted that maintenance be managed by the contractor with a 60-year defect liability period. Currently, the BMC provides parking for 40,000 vehicles in Mumbai—28,500 in public parking lots and 11,500 in on-street spaces.