All it takes is a small idea to start and establish a popular venture. Some of us take an idea and convert it into a popular business venture through passion and determination — something which Chetan Chauhan managed to do. Hailing from Dehradun, Chetan went to KVONGC School there. Later, he moved to Bangalore to pursue his higher studies.
He then pursued his Bachelor’s in Microbiology from St Joseph’s college in Bangalore. Chetan then switched over to journalism and pursued his Master’s in Communication from the University
of Hyderabad.
Though he has worked with other organisations, he was driven by a unique urge to start his own company. “I am not particular about being my own boss, but with your own company, there is a sense of freedom which is immense, and you’re extremely passionate about the project, something which cannot be replicated while working with other companies,” says the 27-year-old.
So when Chetan noticed how hard it was to find parking in Bangalore, he decided to start Constapark along with his childhood friend Mehul Pangtey. “There had come a point in Bangalore where people were scared to go out because of the traffic and lack of available parking places. This is when we decided to do something about it. At Constapark, we provide secure parking solutions in legal parking spots across the city. We also provide discount coupons of a restaurant or a store which you will be visiting,” says Chetan.
How it works
They initially identify parking spaces in the city, tie up with the owners and then keep a close track of the availability of their slots and how much time each customer uses the slot. Before booking the slot, a user will have to mention the time and duration that the particular slot is required for. This way, they can keep a track of each consumer
and ensure that a particular parking spot is not already taken by someone else when a customer gets there.
The price starts at `35 (including service charge) for advance booking. The price varies depending on the time and location. For example, parking slots in prime locations during peak hours are more expensive and can go up to `50. Also, the further in advance one books a slot, the cheaper it is.
How it began
Though Constapark was officially registered only in December 2013, the groundwork for it was laid much before that. “The product development started in January 2013. Later, during the Indian Premier League in April, we decided to test our product. The response from the people was highly encouraging and they also provided us with feedback to improve our product,” he explains. Elaborating on some of the features of Constapark that stand out, he says, “Advance booking is one of our features. This allows users to book a parking space, whenever, wherever they want. That way you are sure of a parking spot before you set out of your house. You need not worry about hunting for a particular parking spot anywhere — be it in malls, or restaurants or stores.” Live status is another interesting feature of Constapark as it helps users know the number of available parking spaces in the location they are heading towards. It also suggests other nearby parking spaces in the same area as well.
“We also ensure safety to the users. In most malls, the management takes no responsibility for your vehicle. They just provide the parking space, which means there is a chance your car or bike could be stolen. With Constapark ATS (Anti Theft Security) you can safely park your car/bike in the Constapark networked parking space,” Chetan says. “Right now, we are in a phase where we want to introduce corporate parking and parking for various events. We would also like to raise funds to further expand our business,” he adds.
While they are still sorting out a few legal issues regarding the parking spaces, their services will be available at stores and restaurants from next month. Chetan is currently enjoying pursuing his passion and working towards
his goal of enabling a hassle-free shopping and dining out experience with the parking taken care of in a metro like Bangalore.
— suhasyellapantula@gmail.com