A major catastrophe was averted on Tuesday evening when a part of an automated multi-level parking facility at Delhi's Green Park, opened last November, collapsed. Some of the vehicles parked suffered minor damage. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Mayor has ordered a probe into the matter. The automated stack parking facility was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and central minister RK Singh with senior SDMC officials. The Hauz Khas police station sprang into action following an information about the collapse of the electrically operated floor plates (that shifts the cars) falling inside the parking space which has now been blocked.

"Cars are parked on platforms in such automated stack parking. Due to some technical glitch one platform or floor plate of the tower number 3 on the 8th floor of the parking facility collapsed. It was not a major incident. Neither anyone was hurt nor any car was damaged in the incident," SDMC Mayor Mukesh Suryan told news agency PTI.

Suryan warned of strict action against those guilty. "An inquiry has been ordered in the incident. Such an incident should not have happened. We are investigating the entire incident. Those responsible for the incident be it the contractor or officials, will not be spared," the mayor added. The 17-floor multilevel automatic parking near Green Park Metro station provides space to 136 cars including 32 SUVs for parking and the project cost was worth around Rs 18 crore.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) taking swipes at the authorities, said that many cars were damaged due to the collapse. AAP's Chief Spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said the cave in was embarrassing for MCD. "A large part of an automated stack parking in Green Park collapsed today. Many cars damaged in the incident. This parking was inaugurated with much funfair by the L-G Anil Baijal and central minister RK Singh and they (BJP) had spoken very highly of this parking facility made with an expenditure of 18 crore. It is a matter of shame for MCD and Delhi BJP," Bhardwaj said in an audio byte.

Later, he added that a new parking structure could not stay in place for even a year. "It is an embarrassment brought by the BJP to all people of Delhi."

"The accountability for this incident falls on Delhi BJP and all the leaders in Delhi Municipal Corporation who uphold the rule of BJP. AAP demands that the culprits be punished and transparency be brought to MCD," Bhardwaj said in a statement. AAP MLA from Malviya Nagar, Somnath Bharti who visited the spot said, "Car platforms in Newly built Multi level parking by BJP ruled MCD in green park have collapsed.”