Ahmedabad's Rs 93 Crore Parking Complex Faces Complete Sale After Multiple Auction Failures
In a dramatic reversal of civic planning, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is preparing to completely exit the parking business at its Prahladnagar multilevel parking-cum-commercial complex. The structure, which represents a significant investment of public funds, has become emblematic of broader infrastructure challenges facing Gujarat's largest city.
From Parking Solution to Commercial Liability
Constructed just two years ago on Anandnagar Road at a substantial cost of Rs 93 crore, the Prahladnagar facility was envisioned as a dual-purpose solution to both parking congestion and commercial development. However, despite four separate auction attempts and multiple marketing strategies, the complex has failed to attract any substantial buyer interest. The AMC's latest approach involves selling the entire property along with its 6,902 square meter plot opposite Prahladnagar Garden in Western Ahmedabad.
The proposed sale carries a hefty base price of Rs 367 crore, comprising Rs 274 crore for the land value and Rs 93 crore reflecting the construction costs. A crucial proposal authorizing the municipal commissioner to proceed with this complete sale will be presented before the standing committee on January 29, marking a significant policy shift for the civic body.
Failed Marketing Strategies and Revised Approaches
Originally, the AMC attempted to market the complex through a floor-by-floor approach with varying price points:
- Ground floor: Rs 2.74 lakh per square meter
- First floor: Rs 2.35 lakh per square meter
- Upper floors: Approximately Rs 1.3 lakh per square meter
Despite these tiered pricing strategies and even a subsequent rate revision by Auda's Land Price Fixing Committee, potential buyers remained conspicuously absent. This persistent lack of interest has demonstrated that even prime locations in Ahmedabad's western corridor cannot guarantee commercial success for such integrated projects.
Complete Transformation Permitted for Future Owners
The most significant aspect of the proposed sale involves the complete freedom granted to future owners regarding the property's use. Since the plot is designated for commercial sale, the new proprietor will have full authority to discontinue parking operations entirely and transform the building into various commercial ventures including hotels, office complexes, shopping malls, or any other profitable enterprise. This represents a fundamental departure from the original civic purpose of the structure.
Broader Pattern of Civic Infrastructure Challenges
The Prahladnagar facility is not an isolated case of civic mismanagement. The AMC simultaneously developed the Sindhu Bhavan multilevel parking at a cost of Rs 97 crore, and together these two facilities represent a combined investment of Rs 190 crore that remains largely underutilized despite ceremonial inaugurations. Historical precedents at Kankaria and Navrangpura locations have followed similar disappointing trajectories, suggesting systemic issues rather than isolated failures.
Across seven such multilevel parking sites throughout Ahmedabad, the municipal corporation has created capacity for 2,088 two-wheelers and 1,824 four-wheelers. Paradoxically, the public continues to ignore these purpose-built facilities while daily roadside parking creates significant traffic congestion throughout the city.
Multiple Infrastructure Failures Across Ahmedabad
The challenges extend beyond the Prahladnagar complex:
- Navrangpura Case: Constructed in 2016 for Rs 59 crore, only two shops were successfully sold, with the remaining spaces eventually converted into government offices.
- Sindhu Bhavan Outcome: In July 2023, the AMC offered 12,868.62 square meters for Rs 197 crore. While one bidder acquired the ground floor for Rs 80 crore with an Rs 8 crore upfront payment, the remaining amount remains pending, and no bids were received for the first and fifth floors.
- Flawed Development Model: The integration of commercial complexes with multilevel parking on high-value land has consistently failed to attract market interest, casting uncertainty over ongoing projects in Chandlodiya and Danapith.
This pattern of underutilization and commercial failure raises important questions about urban planning models, market demand assessments, and the effective utilization of public resources in developing urban infrastructure solutions.
