Thiruvananthapuram's Putharikandam Multi-Level Car Parking Facility Still Closed Months After Inauguration
Months after its grand inauguration in November 2025, the multi-level car parking (MLCP) facility at Putharikandam ground near East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram remains firmly closed to the public. This significant infrastructure project, developed under the ambitious Smart City initiative, was specifically designed to alleviate the severe and chronic parking congestion plaguing one of the city's busiest and most vital commercial hubs.
Operational Delays Amidst Growing Parking Crisis
Despite its formal launch ceremony, which was held concurrently with the inauguration of the Medical College MLCP, the Putharikandam structure has not been made operational for public use. This prolonged delay is occurring at a critical juncture when parking difficulties in the East Fort area have intensified significantly. The situation was exacerbated recently by controversies surrounding high parking fees at the nearby Gandhi Park facility during the high-traffic Attukal Pongala season, leaving motorists and visitors frustrated.
Corporation authorities have provided an explanation for the hold-up, stating that several crucial civil works are still pending. They have indicated that the facility is unlikely to open until after the conclusion of the ongoing election process, with a tentative operational date set for May. Officials elaborated that final finishing works, comprehensive system integration, and mandatory safety checks are yet to be completed, necessitating the delay.
Conflicting Timelines from Implementing Agency
In contrast to the Corporation's cautious timeline, Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL), the agency responsible for implementing the project, has offered a far more optimistic forecast. An SCTL official asserted that the remaining tasks are minor and are rapidly nearing completion. "The work is almost complete, and it will be fully operational within a week. The trial run will begin within a few days," the official stated confidently.
This stark discrepancy in projected opening dates between the civic body and the implementing agency has sown considerable confusion among the public, who are eagerly awaiting relief from the area's parking woes.
Impact on Local Commerce and Public Sentiment
The continued closure of the MLCP is having a tangible negative impact on local commerce. Traders and business owners in the East Fort vicinity have expressed deep concern, reporting that the inadequate and problematic parking facilities are directly affecting customer footfall and, consequently, their sales and livelihoods. The promised solution from the Smart City project remains frustratingly out of reach, compounding daily inconveniences for residents, shoppers, and business operators alike.
The Putharikandam MLCP, envisioned as a cornerstone of urban ease in the state capital, now stands as a symbol of delayed public utility, caught between administrative processes and public urgency.
