Mumbai: BMC to act against illegal parking, hoardings

The traffic police clamp down on offenders across the city on January 4

Following a series of articles by mid-day about the illegal parking of vehicles on footpaths and unauthorised hoardings by political leaders, Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Joshi on Friday issued instructions to take strict action against both violations. In a review meeting held on Friday, Joshi instructed civic officials to issue notices to those putting up unauthorized hoardings as well as the printers who print them. Further, Joshi has also issued instructions to move abandoned vehicles off the roads, and to submit periodic reports about the action taken against both the offences.

Meanwhile, a month after it that action would be taken against illegally parked vehicles hindering its clean-up drive, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is yet to take any actual action in this regard. While The Mumbai Traffic Police, after this paper's reportage, has been taking action against illegal parking across the city, the BMC does not have powers to act against illegal parking. In a review meeting of its cleanliness campaign held on December 7, civic Commissioner IS Chahal had said that parking vehicles outside designated areas not only causes traffic congestion but also inconveniences pedestrians and hinders waste collection.

Chahal had instructed concerned officials to appoint marshals to prevent illegal parking of vehicles. Further, the BMC had written to the Maharashtra Security Guards Board, asking that 500 guards be deployed in the city to assist civic officials in preventing parking of vehicles on pavements and other no-parking zones. On Saturday, however, Additional Commissioner Sudhakar Shinde, in charge of Solid Waste Management, said that they are still waiting for a response from the Board.