More car parks for Colombo needed

Lumbini Edirisinghe

Private sector companies and the Urban Development Authority (UDA) will set up modern car parks in strategic locations in Colombo to ease parking congestion.

The lack of parking facilities in the city is a major problem. Though there are eight car parks owned and operated by the Government it’s not sufficient to meet the demand of vehicles entering the city.

The UDA is also hoping to develop the present car parks opposite Lake House, Nawaloka, the Central Bank, and the World Trade Centre with the assistance of private sector investors.

“These car parks will be developed as public private sector partnership (PPP) projects, Project Manager of UDA Colombo Upul Rupasinghe said.

UDA has called for tenders for the Bodhiraja Mawatha car Park last week and this could be conducted as a PPP project,” he said.

He said the UDA has observed that some lands belonging to the Government have been converted as temporary car parks without permission.

“The owners of vehicles are requesting the UDA to provide them more facilities such as water to wash their vehicles and toilet facilities.

“We cannot give these facilities because of the high electricity bills and other overheads,” he said.

He suggested that the private sector might be able to provide these facilities since they charge Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 for parking which is more than double the rate of UDA car park charges.

He said that if the UDA were to provide these facilities they have to increase their parking charges.

UDA is not keen on making profits and we are offering our facilities as a welfare measure,” he added.

When contacted an official from a private car park said they have to pay taxes and this was the reason for them to charge more than the UDA.