Multi-Level Car Parking Facility Opened At Putharikandam

14 May 2026 CW Team

After prolonged delays the long-awaited multi-level car parking facility at Putharikandam Maidan near the congested East Fort area in Thiruvananthapuram has been opened to the public, offering relief to rail passengers and motorists. Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) is exploring plans for a foot overbridge to link the automated parking complex with Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station to improve access for passengers.

The project was executed at a cost of around Rs 160 million (mn) and the automated system can accommodate up to 200 cars. The facility is designed to ease heavy congestion at East Fort, which is one of the busiest commercial and commuter hubs in the capital. Early commuter response has been lukewarm as many remain unaware that the car park is operational, and SCTL intends to install signboards near the railway station and other locales to encourage use.

Officials noted that the car park will particularly benefit train passengers who often struggle to find safe overnight and multi-day parking, and that the complex includes electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The scheme originated under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) before responsibility passed to the Smart City project, and the design incorporated original foundation piles installed under the earlier plan.

SCTL has proposed restrictions on parking within a 500 metre radius of multi-level car parks to motivate motorists to use the new infrastructure and reduce on-street congestion. The authority expects that coordinated enforcement by traffic police and civic bodies, together with directional signboards, will encourage habitual use over time. Integration with the ongoing railway station redevelopment would further enhance utility and connectivity for commuters.

Infrastructure Urban

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