No sign, only fine: Citizens fume as Mumbai police begin penalising those parking vehicles on road

Clamped two-wheelers on a Mulund road. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

Motorists in the city are miffed by the traffic police's action of fining them for parking on roads. Some say they have been parking two-wheelers and cars at those spots for decades and the areas do not have any ‘No Parking' signs. Traffic officers say they can take action without the sign if a vehicle obstructs movement of other vehicles and creates congestion. Last week, the traffic police took action at Fort, Vile Parle, Mulund, Ghatkopar and Kalina.

"We don't need No Parking boards to fine vehicles on roads. If there are no sign boards it doesn't mean it's a parking zone. We have the right to fine vehicles which increase traffic," said Additional Commissioner of Traffic Police Pravin Padwal. He said parking on roads is illegal. "There are so many parking spaces which people should use for parking but the road is not an option."

Fort resident Hitesh Rathod who was fined. Pic/Suresh Karkera

A traffic cop said if a vehicle is parked on a road for more than 3 minutes, blocking traffic, it can invite action. mid-day visited some of these areas to get a sense of the frustration brewing among the residents.

Also read: Mumbai: Why you got that wrong e-challan

Cawasji Patel Road, Fort

Hitesh Rathod, 47, the owner of Lilson Tailor shop and a resident of the area, was among those fined. He said, "My Father was running this shop since 1947. I've been parking my car here since 1991. On Friday [August 20], dozens of cops arrived and they handed me a challan for R450. There are no ‘No Parking' boards here and we never faced traffic jams."

Priyesh Karia, 30, who runs Jyoti Paper Mart, said, "Our family has been here since 1972 and this is the first time we have been fined for parking our vehicle outside our society. Now, I have to pay Rs 200 daily. The cops should help citizens, not trouble them."

Residents of Cawasji Patel Road show their traffic challans. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Advocate Mayank Bagla, 30, said his car was clamped. "For every hour of delay, the fine goes up by Rs 50." He said there is no mechanism to raise grievances against clamping vehicles on the MTP application. "There is no parking space in our societies."

Rustom Sidhwa Marg, Fort

Karzan Kumana, 20, his mother Farzana, brother Zarvan and grandmother Ketie protested against the police action. They said they were fined for "parking vehicle in dangerous condition/ obstruction to free flow of traffic (section 122/177MVA)". "However, we have been parking our vehicles here for over 70 years," said Farzana.

Harshal Dagli, 29, has residential spaces and shops and owns one car and two bikes. "I have been asked to pay a total fine of Rs 600. "If they instal ‘No Parking' boards then we will not park our vehicle at those places. But action without any intimation is a nuisance."

Modi Street, Fort

Local resident Jeet Karia is also upset. "I've been parking my vehicle for many decades but I was fine only on Friday. For my car and bike, I paid R500 with clamping charges."

Activist Sneha Visaria has written to chiefs of traffic, police for help

Sneha Visaria, a local activist, has written to the traffic chief and police commissioner seeking help. She told mid-day, "The main reason for congestion is double parking, Metro construction and outsiders coming in their cars with drivers since Fort is a commercial area. Day and night, locals' vehicles are parked in one lane, following traffic rules. This is absolute harassment to locals who have been living here for 30-40 years." She added, "We appeal to authorities to give justice. Residential vehicle owners can park their vehicles below their buildings. They should take action against the officers for abusing their power."

Kalina

As a similar action was taken on Kalina-Kurla road, Bharat Gada, 45, who runs Alankar Dresses said, "I've been parking my bike outside my shop for the past 35 years. Last week, a cop clicked a photo of my bike and sent me an e-challan."

A cop with clamps in Mulund East on August 21. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

Dhruv Vadhan, 20, who runs Mahesh General Store said there is double parking on the road most of the time which causes traffic congestion. "Many of my customers were also fined. All this started only last week."

Mulund East

Tempers flew in Mulund as well after cops put clamps on several bikes on Mahatma Phule Road, Chintamani Garden.

"I have been parking my vehicle on this road for 10 years and never was I fined over parking. Last week, my bike was clamped and I was charged R300. There was no ‘No Parking' sign on the road, how can one understand where to park and where not to?" asked Heramb Tiwari. "If we don't have a designated place to park, where will we park our vehicles?" asked Bipin Dedhia of Mulund East Vyapari Association.

Heramb Tiwari, Mulund resident is also upset. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

Local corporator Rajani Keni said the cops clamped about 100 vehicles. "The cops now tell us that most of the roads in Mulund East are No Parking zones. "Where will residents park their vehicles? Also, there are no signs or boards. I'm taking up this issue with senior officials." PI Husan Jatkar of Vikhroli Traffic division said, "It was a special drive conducted to make motorists aware of no parking areas. Though we put clamps on many vehicles, we took action on 67 vehicles."

Mulund West

Activist Nirmal Thakker said he learnt through RTI that Mahatma Gandhi Road from Panch Rasta junction to Ambaji Dham has been prohibited for parking. He said, "We understand action on vehicles which are obstructing traffic, but out of the blue the squad arrives and starts clamping vehicles." He said about 90 vehicles were clamped in March. "We told the cops there were no signs. Finally, they removed the clamps. There is no fixed policy and residents live in fear."

The Kumana family protested the police action in Fort on August 21

4-month jail over tiff with cops

A shop owner from Mulund was handed a 4-month jail sentence after he had an altercation with traffic cops. On April 25, shop Jatin Satra, got into an argument with the police after they removed vehicles from a road. Satra said he had been parking his two-wheeler in front of his shop for years. He was arrested for allegedly abusing the policemen. Satra is still in jail.

Aug 20
When cops took action at Fort