Parking space: High Court notice to govt, GHB

Times of India‎‎‎: Ahmedabad: Friday, July 15, 2016.

Gujarat high court on Wednesday sent notice to the state government and Gujarat Housing Board (GHB) over a petition which complained that the housing board has constructed residential buildings at Shashtrinagar without any parking space.

The petitioner has urged the HC to direct the government and GHB to construct a multi-level parking complex on the adjoining land for people who have purchased houses in this scheme. The petition has also appealed to the court that AMC be directed not to issue BU permission or occupancy certificate till this mistake is rectified.

The petitioner has also requested for direction to AMC to demolish the towers because the approved plan was not adhered to and for re-construction of the buildings with proper parking facilities. The PIL has also sought action against the erring civic officials and the agency involved in construction. The authorities should be restrained from selling shops in this project, the petitioner has demanded.

The petitioner group - Transport Node Hit Rakshak Samiti - has complained that as per the General Development Control Regulations (GDCR), approximately 15% space of the project is to be allocated for parking facility. Basement parking facilities were initially planned when the housing complex for middle income group (MIG) and high income group (HIG) was being set up at Shashtrinagar under the Mukhya Mantri Gruh Awas Yojna. But, when construction of the 1,568 flats completed, parking facilities were missing.

The petitioner group then sought information under the RTI Act from state government, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and GHB regarding the deviations from the original building plan which was approved by the AMC. However, the authorities did not part with the information about MIG and HIG schemes.

The petitioner finally approached the high court through advocate Hemang Shah, who submitted that by not providing basement parking, the authorities have not only violated laws, but they have also committed fraud with people who have purchased houses in the scheme. The PIL pointed out that in the building plan approved by AMC 2,419.19 square metre space was allotted as parking space in the basement for cars and 4,984.15 square metre area for two wheelers. Total parking space approved for the entire project was 22,713 square metres.