Bengaluru, 4 August

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to ensure that abandoned vehicles parked along roadsides across the five City Corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) are removed. 

According to a release, 773km of encroachments have already been cleared from the City as part of the ‘Safe Footpath’ drive. But Gowda noted that in several locations where encroachments had been removed, vehicles were being parked on footpaths. Officials were instructed to prevent such violations. He further directed them to examine the possibility of developing wider-than-required footpaths into aesthetically designed, citizen-friendly public spaces and amenities wherever feasible, while keeping public interest in mind.

Hence, he said that footpath repair works should be carried out simultaneously with encroachment removal. Officials were instructed to complete all pending tenders immediately. 

Gowda also asked officials to submit accurate data on vehicles identified, towed and subsequently released after payment of penalties. 

Each traffic police station will deploy two police personnel for the abandoned vehicle drive.  

Joint Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru Traffic) Karthik Reddy said that 6,576 abandoned vehicles have been identified across the city, including 2,533 by the Police Department and 4,043 reported by citizens. Of these, notices have been served on 1,605 vehicles, while 263 vehicles have been towed. Owners of the notified and towed vehicles have paid ₹2.16 lakh in penalties and reclaimed their vehicles. He added that the enforcement drive would be intensified in the coming days.