Dimapur to have parking complex by 2022

September 7, 2021 91 Views No Comment

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, SEP 7 (NPN) : Dimapur city faces huge problem for vehicle parking in the heart of the city shopping zones such as NL Road, GS Road and the entire stretch from NL Road-Circular Road junction to Dhobinalla.

In order to solve vehicle parking problems, the Shopping Mall-Cum-Parking Complex in New Market was mooted and was eventually provided sanction by the Centre in 2008. Construction started in 2009 but came to an abrupt halt after the contractor abandoned the project midway sometime in 2013.

In an exclusive interview to Nagaland Post, Executive Engineer under Urban Development Department Er. Ketouzo disclosed that the Centre had accorded sanction to the project estimated at Rs.22.3 crore in 2008. He said work was awarded to M/S Vascon and construction work for the project began in 2009. He said the work was scheduled to be completed in 36 months or three years (i.e.2012).

However, he said the company abandoned work after four years (2013) as it apparently faced financial crunch.

Er. Ketouzo also said the department had at several times, asked the company to complete the project.

As the project remained in limbo, Er. Ketouzo said after a gap of five years, it was re-retendered. He attributed the time lag of five years to procedural requirement since the department had to proceed as per terms and agreement of the contract order. He mentioned that cancelling the contract and floating a new tender also took additional time.

He said the project was then awarded to M/s Golden Traders at a revised cost of Rs 14.35 crore.

When contacted, engineer in-charge M/s Golden Traders said the company took over the project in 2019 and it was likely to complete the works by March 2022.

He said the project would have been completed earlier had it not been for the Covid-induced lockdown. He was also apprehensive that in the event of another lockdown, completion of the work could take more time.

Er. Ketouzo, when asked why the project was not completed by the first contractor even after four years, cited several reasons.

One of them being location of the project in one of the busiest parts of the city which hampered work.

In addition, he said rampant encroachment had also hampered work. On reports about litigation filed by the first contractor over alleged non-payment of bills, Ketouzo clarified that there was no court case as the department had cleared all dues.

Meanwhile, Urban Development officer Dimapur, Akok explained that since Dimapur faced a huge problem with car parking, the department had come up with the idea of constructing the City Shopping Mall-cum-Parking in New Market in the busiest area to ease the problem of car parking and also provide entrepreneurship opportunities to local youths.

Ketouzo said the complex, when completed, will accommodate 45 cars at ground floor and 35 at first floor and that one lane on both floors would be available for cars to ply.

He revealed that the second and third floors would have 48 shops each, which would be available only for local Naga entrepreneurs.

The engineer also claimed that all RCC structures were complete, while plastering and brick works were going on and that on completion, the entire project will be handed over to the Dimapur Municipal Council.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/dimapur-to-have-parking-complex-by-2022/239754.html