BMC to move rusting cars to dumping yards

In view of the cars abandoned on the roadsides posing a terror threat and causing inconvenience to motorists, the civic body says it will move them to its dumping yards

In view of the cars abandoned on the roadsides posing a terror threat and causing inconvenience to motorists, the civic body says it will move them to its dumping yards

Shaken up by the terror attacks last month and egged on by a MiD DAY report on the issue on August 8, the BMC has decided to rid the city of the multitude of rusting vehicles abandoned by their owners on roadsides.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Removal of Encroachment) Chandrashekhar Rokade said, "To avoid any further attacks in crowded areas, we are evicting illegal hawkers from every area on a daily basis. But, these unused cars which are abandoned by their owners can also pose a threat if someone decides to plant explosives etc in them."


Scrap it! BMC and traffic police officials tow away an unused car on JJ
Marg yesterday. Pic/Datta Kumbhar

"We have decided to take action and have hired more people and towing vans to get rid of these vehicles. We are also looking at increasing the number of, or space, for the three BMC dumping yards in the city," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Nandkumar Chaugule said, "The vehicles can pose a threat because there is a limited check. The traffic police sometimes tows these vehicles with the help of the BMC.

We prepare a list of cars which are found on the road annually and a number of such unclaimed vehicles are still lying in the dumping yard." He said that in 2010 there were 85 such unclaimed nuisance but the number may have gone up to 115 now.

MiD DAY had earlier reported ('Rusting away in the lanes', August 8) about how the cars were creating a nuisance on the roads by occupying parking and movement space and how they could pose a threat to the city.

"Another major reason to get rid of the cars is cleanliness. The rusting cars are an eyesore, and are best moved to the dumping yards. They are just a nuisance on the road. Such cars are found the most in areas like south Mumbai," said a senior BMC official.

400 The number of illegal hawkers being penalised by the BMC on a daily basis

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