Nainital lodge, declared ‘enemy property’ in ’60s, to be opened for parking | India News

NAINITAL: To deal with Nainital’s parking disaster, MHA Wednesday issued formal directives allocating the premises of the Metropole Hotel to the Uttarakhand authorities for short-term use as a parking facility.Built in 1880, the lodge as soon as belonged to the Raja of Mehmoodabad, who migrated to Pakistan. A luxurious vacation spot in its prime, it famously hosted figures equivalent to Pakistan’s founding father, Mohd Ali Jinnah, who spent his honeymoon there. It was designated ‘enemy property’ in the early Nineteen Sixties.MHA’s determination follows a request by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who cited the city’s acute parking scarcity and proposed utilizing the lodge’s expansive grounds, able to accommodating over 1,000 autos, for public parking. According to a state govt communique, dwelling minister Amit Shah responded positively, confirming MHA’s approval in an official letter to the CM. Thanking Shah, Dhami mentioned the transfer would “significantly ease traffic congestion and improve logistical convenience in the region.“Spread over 10 acres, the once-celebrated property had fallen into disrepair after being declared enemy property, with encroachers progressively occupying its open land. In 2023, round 134 households have been evicted following Supreme Court orders. In Oct final 12 months, the custodian workplace of enemy properties beneath MHA had issued a short lived No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Nainital district Justice of the Peace, permitting floor parking on an ad-hoc foundation.