HCM CITY — HCM City has agreed to the transport department’s proposal to open temporary smart parking lots in downtown areas to meet demand.

While waiting for implementation to build permanent smart parking lots, the transport department will work with other city agencies to find locations for temporary smart lots.

The locations must meet requirements set by the city government, including the period of time to set up the parking lots in certain areas.

The department has also been asked to call for investment in smart parking lots.

A lack of parking space has become a serious issue in the city, especially for those who drive four-wheeled vehicles.

Although the city has nearly 100 high-rises located downtown with one to five floors each dedicated to parking space, the total area of 570m of parking falls short of demand, according to the transport department.

To resolve the issue, experts have said numerous smart parking lots should be built across the city.

Instead of opting for the traditional variety, the smart parking lots would have a multi-storey module served by a pallet system that can raise and lower cars in and out of parking slots.

Bùi Xuân Cường, director of the department, said the city would work with the private sector to build the smart parking lots, which would cost about US$3.2 million each.

A company in the city has conducted research on building smart parking lots at 23/9 Park, Lam Sơn Square and Lê Văn Tám Park.

The city also has a long-term plan to build 17 bus garages, 15 taxi parking lots and 42 car parking lots covering a total area of 520 hectares.

Many projects have been planned for years but have been delayed due to red tape and complicated administrative procedures. — VNS