KARACHI - The multi-storey parking plaza in Lines Area will be operational from April 2009 as work on the project is in final stages. The EDO Transport and Communication Department (TCD), Iftikhar Kaimkhani, visited the site and reviewed the work on the project, The Nation has learnt on Friday. Sources mentioned that delay in the auction of shops and offices in the project would not create hurdles in the opening of parking of vehicles inside the plaza, sources said. The auction matter of shops and offices is related to the Enterprise and Investment Promotion (E&IP). When contacted Kaimkhani told The Nation that Lines Area parking plaza would be ready in April. The final dates of its opening would be decided when City Nazim Mustafa Kamal would return from his official tour of abroad. He said that TCD was looking after the matters of development side of the project. He said that auction process of the shops and offices was being managed by E&IP and allotment of the parking facilities would also be outsourced by the same department. "Since the delayed Preedy Street project has been started in Lines Area, the importance of Lines Area parking plaza has increased manifold." Sources in the CDGK said that, however, floors which were developed for the parking purposes have been completed months back. But, due to delay in the auction of shops, offices and some other reasons, the project is yet to be operational. It is pertinent to note that auction process has been failed thrice due to lack of proper planning of E&IP department of CDGK. The prevailing financial crisis has further delayed the auction process, sources said. City Nazim Mustafa Kamal will review the latest planning about the project upon his arrival to the country, they said. After the opening of the parking plaza, parking in the surroundings of Saddar would be banned. It may be noted that overall 88 shops are at ground floor, 74 at Mezzanine, 60 offices at 6th floor and few shops at 7th floor. They further said that the Lines Area parking project was one of the five multi-storey parking plazas which had been planned for construction to facilitate the commuters. The other project would also be developed in Saddar at Shahabuddin Market, two parking plazas in Clifton and one at another place. Lower and upper two basements and 1-5 floors would be available for parking.