Lahore’s traffic woes may soon ease as work on the long-delayed Neela Gumbad Parking Plaza is finally set to kick off next month. Officials from the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) confirmed on Saturday that groundwork for the ambitious project is already in motion.
The multi-level facility, which has been in planning for years, was initially designed by the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival (LAHR) before being handed over to TEPA for execution.
Four Levels, Hundreds of Slots
Spanning 16 kanals, the parking plaza will feature four underground floors, three of which will be dedicated to vehicle parking with capacity for 374 cars and 790 motorcycles. The top level will house commercial shops allocated to traders whose businesses are being relocated to make way for the development.
“This project is designed to tackle the chronic parking chaos in one of Lahore’s busiest commercial areas,” TEPA Chief Engineer Iqrar Hussain told Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq during a project briefing.
Smart Systems and Safety Features
Beyond vehicle space, the facility will incorporate modern amenities, including an automated parking management system, fire safety mechanisms, CCTV surveillance, and public washrooms. Displaced shopkeepers will also receive a year’s worth of financial compensation for lost business, officials confirmed.
A Network of Parking Plazas
The Neela Gumbad project is part of a broader initiative to reduce traffic congestion in Lahore’s old city. Authorities revealed plans for additional parking plazas near Nasser Bagh and Tollinton Market, historic areas that also face persistent parking and traffic challenges.
LDA DG Farooq instructed officials to fast-track bidding while insisting that construction quality remain a top priority. The plaza is expected to be completed within its stipulated deadline once work begins.
