
Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) has engaged the College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram (CET) to carry out soil testing at the medical college site in preparation for the new multi-level car parking (MLCP) facility.
Additionally, CET is assessing the strength of existing piles at Putharikandam Ground, where another MLCP is planned. The construction for both facilities is slated to commence in the last week of May.
RRTL, the contractor, has already completed an MLCP at Palayam and is in the process of designing the new parking structures. According to a senior official at SCTL, the designs for the MLCPs are almost finalised. “Soil tests are necessary to ensure soil stability before finalising the design. We expect CET to provide the test results by May 15, after which SCTL will approve the design,” the official explained.
The official added that piling work at Putharikandam has been completed, and CET, along with other private agencies, is evaluating the foundation’s strength.
The new MLCPs are expected to be completed within six months of construction to reduce parking congestion in busy areas like East Fort and the Medical College.
The Putharikandam MLCP will also include parking for two-wheelers. The estimated cost for the Putharikandam project is Rs 20 crore, while the medical college MLCP is budgeted at Rs 16.58 crore. These projects will feature automated parking systems under the EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) model, which includes design, manufacturing, supply, installation, and maintenance.
The corporation council has transferred two MLCP projects under Amrut-I to Smart City. Initially planned in 2016 for the corporation’s main office, Putharikandam, and the medical college, the corporation office project is complete, and the remaining projects have been handed over to SCTL.
The piling works for the Putharikandam MLCP were completed by a contractor whose contract was terminated without any financial risk or cost. Similarly, the medical college MLCP contract was previously terminated under the same conditions.
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SCTL executives informed in advance that the upcoming MLCPs at Putharikandam & the Medical College will have a layout to accommodate a minimum of 220 cars.