Following the guidelines of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government is continuously taking steps towards strengthening the basic facilities of government complexes and public utilities in the state. In this context, efforts have been made to speed up the construction work of the proposed three-storey parking in the District Court complex of Pithoragarh district. Regarding giving administrative and financial approval to the revised estimate of the project, Dr. R., Secretary of Housing Department and State Property Officer in the State Secretariat. An important meeting of the committee constituted under the chairmanship of Rajesh Kumar was held. District Magistrate Pithoragarh and engineers of the executing agency Public Works Department along with departmental officers participated in the meeting. The technical aspects of the project, revised cost, need for construction and utility of parking were discussed in detail in the meeting. Officials said that after the completion of the construction of the proposed parking, parking facility will be available to the people coming to the District Court premises as well as to the common citizens.

Discussion on revised estimate of Rs 959.47 lakh

For the construction of three-storey parking in the District Court complex, a revised detailed estimate has been prepared by the provincial section, Public Works Department, Pithoragarh, the executing agency. Discussion was held in the committee meeting regarding the administrative and financial approval of the revised estimate of Rs 959.47 lakh approved by the TAC constituted for technical approval. Funds have already been released for the project from the government level. Through Government Order No. 199681/2024, dated 16 March 2024, 40 percent of the total cost i.e. an amount of Rs 270.61 lakh was released. After this, in view of the need for construction work and additional provisions made in the project, the need for additional funds has emerged. The reasons for the increase of Rs 282.93 lakh in the revised estimate were also discussed in detail in the meeting. According to officials, additional provisions for electrification, reinforcement and two lifts have been made in the revised estimates of the project. Due to these additional items the cost of the project has increased. The committee directed that the additional increase in the estimate due to these items should be explained in writing by the concerned engineer of the Public Works Department and detailed information should be made available to the government, so that the process of administrative and financial approval of the project can be carried forward as per the rules.

Along with the court premises, the general public will also get benefits.

The proposed parking place is on Market Road. In such a situation, its importance will not be limited only to the District Court premises. The parking will be able to be used by the advocates, litigants, employees and others coming to the court as well as common citizens. Parking is becoming a big challenge in hilly cities due to limited space and increasing number of vehicles. Pithoragarh is also not untouched by this. There is a large number of people moving around the District Court premises. In such a situation, construction of three-storey parking will provide systematic space to the vehicles and will help in reducing the problem arising from unplanned parking on the roadside. The proposed parking capacity is 43 cars. Due to development in multi-storey form, limited land can be better utilized. Provision of two lifts will also help in facilitating transportation to different levels of parking.

Fee will be fixed for parking operation

In the meeting, important instructions were also given on the subject to the operation of the parking facility. Officials were told that the fee will be fixed as per the prescribed system for the operation of parking. In this regard, District Magistrate Pithoragarh has been instructed to determine the parking fee. The objective of the government is that the parking should be operated in a systematic manner and arrangements for its maintenance and operation should also be ensured. After determining the fees, necessary arrangements will also be made regarding regular operation of parking, movement of vehicles and security arrangements.

Government's focus on expanding basic facilities

As per the guidelines of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government is paying special attention to the development of government premises as well as facilities directly to the common people. Facilities like parking are not limited only to facilitating the transportation system, but they also play an important role in the systematic development of cities. Due to limited availability of land in a hilly district like Pithoragarh, multi-storey parking projects can prove to be more useful. The proposed three-storey parking of the District Court complex is being considered an important step in this direction.

Housing Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar's statement

Housing Secretary and State Property Officer Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said that as per the guidelines of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, priority is being given to the development of infrastructure facilities to public utilities in the state. The purpose of the proposed three-storey parking project in the Pithoragarh District Court complex is to provide organized parking facility to the people coming to the court as well as to the general public. He said that necessary facilities like electrification, reinforcement and two lifts have been included in the revised estimate of the project. Instructions have been given to clearly provide the reasons for additional cost to the concerned executing agency, so that the approval process can proceed transparently and as per the rules. He said that the parking capacity will be 43 cars and instructions have been given to the District Magistrate to determine the fees for its operation. The government is trying to ensure that the project progresses in a time bound manner and its benefits reach the common people.