Chief Justice of India inaugurates Multi-Level Parking Facility at District Courts Complex, Sector 43

Chandigarh, July 18: Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, today inaugurated the newly constructed Multi-Level Parking Facility at the District Courts Complex, Sector 43, Chandigarh. Developed by the Chandigarh Administration at a cost of approximately ₹65.64 crore, the facility has been built to address the long-pending parking needs of the District Courts. Spread over 4.5 acres, it has a parking capacity of 1,174 cars in its first phase and will provide organised, safe and convenient parking for advocates, litigants, judges, court staff, police personnel and the general public.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Punjab Governor and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria; Justice A. G. Masih, Judge, Supreme Court of India; Justice Sheel Nagu, Judge, Supreme Court of India; Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Acting Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Deepak Sibal, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Chairman of the Hon’ble Building Committee, U.T. Chandigarh; Justice J. S. Puri, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Lisa Gill, Chief Justice, Andhra Pradesh High Court; sitting and retired judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Member of Parliament for U.T. Chandigarh; Mayor of U.T. Chandigarh; senior judicial officers; officers of the Chandigarh Administration including the Home Secretary, Finance Secretary and Standing Counsel, U.T. Chandigarh; the Additional Solicitor General of India; members of the Bar; police personnel and other dignitaries.

Upon the arrival of the Chief Justice of India, the ceremony commenced with the unveiling of the inaugural plaque followed by the National Song. Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, welcomed the Chief Justice of India, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria and the distinguished dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Justice of India said Chandigarh holds a special place in his life as it is his “Karam Bhoomi”. Describing the inauguration as an emotional moment, he appreciated the efforts being made to strengthen the judicial ecosystem in the city. He said the new parking facility fulfils a long-standing requirement of the District Courts, where advocates and litigants had faced parking difficulties for years. He urged members of the Bar to make proper use of the facility and maintain parking discipline. Stressing that infrastructure development must keep pace with the changing needs of society, he said citizen-friendly facilities enhance accessibility and convenience while strengthening public confidence in the justice delivery system. He added that continuous efforts are being made to develop sustainable and efficient infrastructure for all stakeholders. Emphasising that robust judicial infrastructure forms the backbone of the legal system, he said such projects are no longer a luxury but an essential public utility. He also highlighted the need to provide comprehensive facilities to advocates so that they can devote themselves fully to justice delivery without logistical constraints and recalled that the initiative for constructing the Multi-Level Parking Facility was undertaken during his tenure as Chairman of the Building Committee.

Punjab Governor and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, congratulated the legal fraternity on the inauguration of the state-of-the-art facility. He said the new parking facility would significantly ease congestion and improve convenience for advocates, judges, litigants, police personnel, court staff and the public. He said Chandigarh, as a planned city, must continue strengthening its infrastructure while preserving its unique heritage. Appreciating the close coordination between the judiciary and the Chandigarh Administration, he said such collaborative efforts have consistently translated development projects into reality. Referring to the justice delivery system, the Administrator described advocates as one of its strongest pillars and urged them to continue serving society by ensuring affordable and accessible justice. He also highlighted that India’s new criminal laws have strengthened the criminal justice system through technology-enabled and time-bound investigations and trials.

Justice Deepak Sibal, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Chairman of the Hon’ble Building Committee, U.T. Chandigarh, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Justice of India for his vision, guidance and unwavering support in ensuring the successful completion of the project.

The parking facility is equipped with modern amenities including passenger lifts, CCTV surveillance, fire detection and fire-fighting systems, mechanical ventilation in the basement, accessible pedestrian ramps, reserved parking for specially abled persons, driver rooms and an efficient traffic circulation system. Executed by the Engineering Department, Chandigarh Administration, the project is expected to significantly improve traffic management around the District Courts Complex while enhancing public convenience through planned urban infrastructure.