Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to dismantle a decade-old, defunct automated multi-level parking facility located on Jangli Maharaj (JM) Road near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden. The decision comes after a structural audit deemed the facility beyond repair and economically unviable.
Project History and Deterioration
The 20-storey ‘Vertipark’, launched in 2007, was Pune’s first fully automated parking facility designed to accommodate 60 cars. It aimed to maximize parking space within a minimal urban footprint. However, the project suffered a major technical snag just five years after its inauguration and has remained non-functional since. According to civic officials, the Pune Municipal Corporation was unable to find a technically qualified agency for its maintenance, repairs, and operation. This lack of upkeep led to significant deterioration of the steel structure, raising safety concerns for pedestrians and visitors in the vicinity.
Cost and Viability Analysis
The mechanical parking facility, which cost approximately ₹2.5 crore, was found to be financially unviable for restoration. A technical assessment concluded that the substantial investment required for repairs would not be justified by the potential revenue from its operation. Furthermore, discussions with MahaMetro regarding its potential use adjacent to the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden Metro Station were dropped because the parking system was designed for older, smaller vehicles and was incompatible with modern, larger cars. Even with repairs, the parking capacity would have been significantly reduced.
Dismantling Process and Future Plans
Administrative approval for the demolition was granted by the Municipal Commissioner on May 21, 2026. The PMC invited bids for the dismantling work, with seven bids received and four qualifying in the technical evaluation. Sparktech Engineering emerged as the lowest bidder, quoting ₹29,000 per metric tonne for the removal of the steel structure. A proposal to approve this contract has been submitted to the Standing Committee. The exact date of demolition is yet to be finalized. While the site’s future use is under consideration, with possibilities ranging from a new, higher-capacity parking structure to other civic amenities, the immediate focus is on safely removing the unsafe and obsolete facility.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
