Ahmedabad: The standing committee of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) approved podium parking for the first time on Thursday, greenlighting this feature in 22 buildings. Notably, 12 of these are located in the north-west zone. Committee chairman Devang Dani stated that the topmost level of podium parking will be open to the sky and designated for landscaping, common areas, and recreational activities.

Podium parking, an eco-friendlier alternative to basement parking, utilizes ground-level space without extensive digging. Approved by the state government in its 2019 development plan, this system is suitable for buildings on plots larger than 4,000 square meters and over 25 meters in height. Podium parking can span multiple levels and is more cost-effective than underground parking, also helping to alleviate on-street parking issues. Additionally, it mitigates problems like basement waterlogging during monsoons and fire hazards.

Already implemented in space-constrained cities like Mumbai, podium parking must comply with guidelines from the 2019 state government notification. These guidelines prohibit podiums in front or margin spaces of buildings and require fire safety clearance. Environmentally, podiums provide limited natural ground access, encouraging more tree planting and reducing accident hazards.