Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 30 Oct: Dehradun District Administration, under the guidance of the Chief Minister, and under the direct supervision of District Magistrate (DM) Savin Bansal, has initiated an innovative programme to ensure smoother traffic management, systematic automated parking, and women’s empowerment through the free shuttle service ‘Sakhi Cab’. As part of this initiative, two additional Tata Punch electric vehicles (EVs) have been allocated to the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Dehradun, for operations under the automated parking facility. These vehicles provide complimentary transport to car owners who park their vehicles at designated sites, facilitating easy access to crowded and high-traffic zones.
DM Bansal shared that, in the coming days, six more EVs will be added to the ‘Sakhi Cab’ fleet to further strengthen the facility. Bansal, following the Chief Minister’s direction, has overseen the construction of three automated parking facilities in Dehradun to reduce congestion and improve parking convenience. To reinforce the initiative, two EV ‘Sakhi Cab’ shuttle services are already operating, and six additional vehicles will be inducted soon under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The three newly developed automated parking sites are located near Parade Ground, accommodating 111 vehicles; near Tibetan Market, with space for 132 vehicles; and at Coronation District Hospital, with a capacity for 18 vehicles, totalling 261 parking slots. These parking facilities are expected to be formally dedicated to the public by the Chief Minister shortly.
The officials shared that the free shuttle service presently operates within a five-kilometre radius covering Ghantaghar, Subhash Road, Gandhi Park, and Parade Ground, offering convenient pick-and-drop services to commuters. In parallel, the administration and police have begun stringent enforcement against unauthorised roadside parking, and a dedicated crane has been functioning for this purpose over the past month.
The automated parking project aims to address the rising number of vehicles and the shortage of adequate parking space in the city. The automated parking facility at Parade Ground is currently managed by the Krishna Self-Help Group from the Vikasnagar block, formed under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
