The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has issued a fresh tender for its ambitious multi-level car parking facility at Raviwar Karanja. This move comes after the civic body's initial tender last month failed to attract sufficient interest from developers.
Second Attempt for a Crucial Project
Officials are now hopeful that this renewed effort will successfully secure a private partner, allowing construction to begin early next year. The project, estimated to cost around Rs 30 crore, will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. Specifically, it will use a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
An NMC official explained the situation: "We floated the tender last month, but the response was poor. Hence, bids have been invited again." The pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, with the final submission deadline set for December 12. The corporation aims to finalize the tender process by the end of this month to enable work to commence in January.
Addressing Congestion in a Commercial Hub
This facility is poised to become the NMC's first multi-level parking structure. Its primary goal is to alleviate severe traffic congestion in one of Nashik's most vibrant commercial zones. Raviwar Karanja serves as a major market center, surrounded by high-traffic areas such as:
- Main Road
- MG Road
- Shalimar
- Kapad Market
- Saraf Bazaar
Heavy vehicle movement is constant here, and the current scarcity of organized parking spaces regularly leads to major snarls on the narrow roads. The new car park is planned for the site of the former Yashwant Mandai building, which was demolished recently after being declared unsafe in a structural audit.
Concession Terms and Past Challenges
The agency selected for the project will be granted a 30-year concession period. During this time, they will be responsible for designing, building, financing, and operating the facility before ultimately transferring it back to the municipal corporation. Authorities believe this project will bring a significant improvement to traffic management in Nashik's core city area.
This is not the NMC's first attempt to implement such a solution. Previously, the Nashik Municipal Smart City Development Corporation Ltd (NMSCDCL) had proposed mechanical parking systems at two locations—near Sita Gumpha in Panchavati and at Yashwant Mandai—under a PPP model. Those projects, however, did not materialize due to poor response from bidders and were eventually cancelled.
