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

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

Following mid-day's reports about the encroachment of vehicles and vendors on footpaths, the Mumbai police's traffic division has launched a full-scale 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 11,769 vehicles on Thursday.

Senior Police Inspector Vikas Lokre of the Borivali traffic division said, "We took action against 93 vehicles parked on footpaths on January 4 and towed 45 such vehicles." "We continue to act against offenders as part of our special drive," he added.

Senior officials from Borivali traffic division hit the roads to crack down on vehicles parked on footpaths. Pic/Prasun Choudhari

Pravinkumar Padwal, joint commissioner of police (traffic), said, "We 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 full-fledged campaign to ensure that the footpaths are made parking-free and pedestrian-friendly."

Adding to this, M Ramkumar, additional commissioner of police (traffic), said, "Many 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 navigation."

A senior officer from the traffic division explained the fine structure, saying, "A fine of Rs 500 is levied against those who park vehicles on footpaths. If the vehicle is parked dangerously, the fine is Rs 1,500. If the vehicle needs to be towed because of the offence, for two-wheelers, the fine for a first-time offender is Rs 736 and from the second time, the amount is then increased to Rs 1,736 each time the offence is committed throughout the year. For four-wheelers, the fine is Rs 972 for first-time offenders; it is then increased to Rs 1,972 for the rest of the year."

The traffic police clamp down on offenders across the city

ActivistSpeak: Civic activist Godfrey Pimenta said, "The 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 first-time violation. If the fine is Rs 5,000 for first-time offenders and Rs 15,000 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 citizens' problems. One does not know whether to travel by vehicle or on foot as on both fronts, the situation of illegal parking is the same."

No BMC action yet

While the traffic division got into action mode in the wake of mid-day's reportage, the BMC was lethargic despite being aware of the situation. Talking about illegal hawkers and makeshift shops on footpaths across Mumbai, Pimenta said, "Officials 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 this." One such email, addressed to the chief minister, various state government officials and the municipal commissioner, stated, "Despite the Bombay High Court lambasting municipal corporation for not attending to the hawker issue, there is no let-up 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 deterrence." mid-day tried contacting civic chief I S Chahal, but he did not reply to this reporter's calls and text messages.

Rs 500
Fine for parking on footpaths

Rs 736
Fine levied on first-time offenders for two-wheelers