Commercial space to be created above upcoming parking facility in Solan

The Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) has mooted a proposal to provide commercial space on lease above an upcoming parking project in the city. Solan Mayor Usha Sharma, along with the staff of the civic body, had inspected the project located on the railway road recently. The team pondered over the proposal of creating a commercial space above the double-storey parking which would help generate revenue for the civic body.

Being constructed by the construction wing of the BSNL, the officials told the Mayor that the parking along with a commercial hall would be completed by September. With the Mayor’s term coming to an end in March next year, she was keen to complete the pending projects in time.

The multi-storey parking which is nearing completion will not only address the key problem of parking in Solan but it will also provide income to the money-starved civic body which was grappling with severe fund shortage for carrying out various development activities.

The railway road parking project, meant for 102 vehicles, was conceived in 2008. Though bids were invited for the project on a ‘build, operate and transfer’ basis in 2008, only a portion was completed in 2018 and the construction of its second phase was re-started in 2024 after Rs 50 lakh were provided by the civic body. It was now nearing completion and one floor has already been let out for parking.

Usha Sharma told The Tribune that, “The issue of providing commercial space above a multi-level parking on the railway road would be put up before the house and efforts would be made to construct it at the earliest after seeking the approval of the house.”

“Being centrally located with a dedicated parking, the MC can explore the possibility of inviting major brands once the space is readied,” said the MC engineers.

With major brands like Decathlon making a beeline to Solan in the recent months, the builders, who have encashed the opportunity, are earning crores of rupees by providing commercial space on lease. Even famous eateries can be let out the space for commercial use once the facility replete with civic amenities is set up in the coming months.

Himachal Tribune