Traffic cops penalise over 11,000 offenders for illegally parking on footpaths

Following middayrsquos reports about the encroachment of vehicles and vendors on footpaths the Mumbai policersquos traffic division has launched a fullscale campaign to penalise all such offenders Senior Police Inspector Vikas Lokre of the Borivali traffic division said action was taken against 93 vehicles on January 4 Sources said citywide action was taken against 11769 vehicles on ThursdaySenior Police Inspector Vikas Lokre of the Borivali traffic division said ldquoWe took action against 93 vehicles parked on footpaths on January 4 and towed 45 such vehiclesrdquo ldquoWe continue to act against offenders as part of our special driverdquo he addedSenior officials from Borivali traffic division hit the roads to crack down on vehicles parked on footpaths PicPrasun ChoudhariPravinkumar Padwal joint commissioner of police traffic said ldquoWe have issued orders to all traffic officials to take stringent action against motor vehicles being illegally parked on footpaths and have already started acting against offenders The traffic division is undertaking a fullfledged campaign to ensure that the footpaths are made parkingfree and pedestrianfriendlyrdquoAdding to this M Ramkumar additional commissioner of police traffic said ldquoMany vehicles being parked on footpaths have been towed by various traffic police stations and others have been issued challans for parking illegally on footpaths and causing obstruction to navigationrdquoA senior officer from the traffic division explained the fine structure saying ldquoA fine of Rs 500 is levied against those who park vehicles on footpaths If the vehicle is parked dangerously the fine is Rs 1500 If the vehicle needs to be towed because of the offence for twowheelers the fine for a firsttime offender is Rs 736 and from the second time the amount is then increased to Rs 1736 each time the offence is committed throughout the year For fourwheelers the fine is Rs 972 for firsttime offenders it is then increased to Rs 1972 for the rest of the yearrdquoThe traffic police clamp down on offenders across the cityActivistSpeak Civic activist Godfrey Pimenta said ldquoThe fine imposed on such offender is very light It should be increased at least tenfold to be effective The problem is that a person can easily pay a fine for a firsttime violation If the fine is Rs 5000 for firsttime offenders and Rs 15000 for consecutive offences one will think a hundred times before parking their vehicle on the footpath The situation in many parts of Mumbai is terrible as it seems that footpaths are meant for parking vehicles not pedestrians Also many vehicles are being parked on roads across the city in such a manner that they block traffic which adds to citizensrsquo problems One does not know whether to travel by vehicle or on foot as on both fronts the situation of illegal parking is the samerdquoNo BMC action yetWhile the traffic division got into action mode in the wake of middayrsquos reportage the BMC was lethargic despite being aware of the situation Talking about illegal hawkers and makeshift shops on footpaths across Mumbai Pimenta said ldquoOfficials take haftas from these hawkers and allow them to conduct their businesses Senior officials are to be blamed for this as they turn a blind eye to thisrdquo One such email addressed to the chief minister various state government officials and the municipal commissioner stated ldquoDespite the Bombay High Court lambasting municipal corporation for not attending to the hawker issue there is no letup in chaotic traffic conditions during the Saturday Day Bazar on Andheri Kurla Road A while ago hawkers virtually laid siege on three lanes worsening the traffic situation This road is frequently used by ambulances going to Seven Hills hospital and on some occasions by fire renders Though there is a police chowkie at Mukund Hospital junction in JB Nagar there is no deterrencerdquo midday tried contacting civic chief I S Chahal but he did not reply to this reporterrsquos calls and text messagesRs 500Fine for parking on footpathsRs 736Fine levied on firsttime offenders for twowheelers