Kathmandu: Six companies and government bodies have expressed interest in constructing smart parking systems at 36 locations in the Kathmandu Valley.

According to the Town Development Fund (TDF), six companies have applied in response to its public call notice to build mechanical parking at three dozen locations in the Valley. The government enterprise, private companies and different municipalities are among the applicants.

Of them, the government-owned Food Management and Trading Company Limited has expressed its interest to build the structures in Maitighar and Thapathali areas. Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Bhaktapur Municipality, Butwal Sub-metropolitan City and Banepa Municipality have also applied for the construction. We Build, a Nepali company, has also sought to collaborate with China’s Lutaida Company to build the infrastructure.

According to the TDF, the construction cost of an automated car parking system is around Rs 800,000 to Rs 1.2 million per car space. The TDF will be providing a loan of 50 percent to 90 percent of the construction cost to the selected companies.

As of now, Bhatbhateni Superstore has been operating the country’s first multi-level smart vertical parking system at its Tangal-based outlet. The parking system contains 11 stories which can accommodate up to 44 four-wheelers at a time.