Providing respite to patients and visitors who struggle to find car parking space at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Delhi Urban Art Commission has approved plans for a three-level underground parking near Masjid Moth, behind the hospital. AIIMS officials said once they receive all formal approvals, the multi-level parking will be constructed within a year. Another surface parking site is being constructed within the campus. This is likely to be ready by September 2012. The underground parking site is part of the redevelopment plan drafted to decongest AIIMS. “Around 450 cars will be able to park at the three-level underground parking lot. The cost of this project is Rs 50 crore and we can start work on this project as soon as we get the required approvals. While DUAC has approved this project, we are waiting for the go-ahead from the NDMC. The project will be completed in a year’s time once work begins at the site,’’ AIIMS spokesperson Y K Gupta said. Tenders for this project have already been floated and work will be awarded once the NDMC approval comes. The NDMC, on the other hand, claimed that approval for the project had already been granted. On an average, around 7,000-8,000 vehicles are parked in and around AIIMS everyday. Visitors often have to pay exorbitant amounts to park in the front portion of the hospital. AIIMS is also planning a surface parking lot near a nullah behind the campus. “Surface parking will be provided on the covered part of the nullah. The cost of this project is Rs 20 crore. It will be ready for use by September 2012,’’ Gupta said.