T’puram: Months after its inauguration in Nov 2025, the multi-level car parking (MLCP) facility at Putharikandam ground near East Fort remains closed to the public. The facility, developed under Smart City project, was expected to ease severe parking congestion in one of the city’s busiest commercial hubs.Despite its formal launch alongside Medical College MLCP, the Putharikandam structure has not been made operational. The delay has come at a time when parking difficulties in the East Fort area have intensified, especially after controversies surrounding high parking fees at Gandhi Park facility during the recent Attukal Pongala season. Corporation authorities stated that several civil works are still pending and indicated that the facility is likely to be opened only after the ongoing election process, tentatively in May. Officials pointed out that final finishing works, system integration, and safety checks are yet to be completed. However, Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL), the implementing agency, offered a more optimistic timeline. An SCTL official said the remaining works are minor and nearing completion. “The work is almost complete, and it will be fully operational within a week. The trial run will begin within a few days,” the official said. The conflicting timelines have led to confusion among public. Local traders have also expressed concern, stating that inadequate parking facilities are affecting customer footfall.
