Technical problems: Parking plaza plan scaled down

GUJRANWALA: The Gujranwala Development Authority (GDA) on Saturday decided to build a two-storey shopping plaza at a site reserved for a four-storey parking plaza. In a summary sent to the chief minister, GDA cited the non-cooperation of the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce (GCC) as the reason. The GDA had allocated a two-kanal site at the Sangam Morr on GT Road for the parking plaza two years ago. The chief minister had been assured that the funds for the parking plaza would be provided by the GCC. An international company, Coolier, was directed to prepare the feasibility report. The GCC has since then expressed its reservations and is not providing the money. According to the feasibility report, even if a parking plaza were made on the location it would only be able to cater to 34 cars. A ramp could also not be built. Lack of funds and technical problems have led the GDA to replace the parking plaza with plans for a shopping plaza. The chief minister has been asked to allot the shops to traders who lost their shops due to the construction of a flyover. It is recommended that the plaza only have electronics shops.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.