Societies in Ravet, Wakad use jammers, fines to prevent haphazard parking

Earlier in 2019, Malpani Greens housing society at Wakad, started using jammers for vehicles parked haphazardly

Silver Gardenia cooperative housing society is the latest addition to a growing list of housing societies in Wakad and Ravet that are using a system of jammers and fines to prevent haphazard parking inside the society premises while inculcating discipline amongst residents and visitors. It was at the society meeting last month that a resolution was passed to use jammers to lock haphazardly parked vehicles.

Housing societies in Ravet, Wakad are using a system of jammers and fines to prevent haphazard parking inside the society premises (HT PHOTO)

“We gave resident-members (250 flat-owners) one month and also conducted a 15-day awareness programme about the same,” said Shyam Taware, chairperson, Silver Gardenia society. “It has been a month since this idea has been in use and it has worked quite well. For now, residents have understood that they must utilise their own parking area and not park haphazardly in open parking slots,” Taware said. In one particular instance, a resident even complained to the police and the police visited the society whereupon Taware explained to them the reason for using the jammers and they agreed that if it was part of the society’s rules and regulations, there was nothing wrong with it. Akash Thite, a resident-member of the same society, said that it was very frustrating initially for visitors to find their vehicles locked. “But then slowly, we informed all our visitors not to park anywhere but only in the visitors’ parking, and now care is taken that this is followed,” he said. The security guard at the society now asks each person about parking and leaves their cars ahead accordingly.

Tejaswini Dhomse Sawai, secretary, Shonest housing society, Wakad, said, “We at Shonest put jammers and impose penalty on the people who park their vehicles in the wrong places, which creates issues for others. This has helped us avoid haphazard parking and people tend to abide by the rules. This is because we don’t have extra parking so we want to have a proper parking system.”

Earlier in 2019, Malpani Greens housing society at Wakad, started using jammers for vehicles parked haphazardly. The initiative has borne fruit and people have become more disciplined. According to residents of most housing societies in Wakad, parking is an issue which often leads to bickering among residents. However, the new solution is proving quite effective in making both residents and visitors understand the importance of parking in their own spaces.

However, DCP Anand Bhoite, PCMC, said, “Putting jammers on a vehicle is illegal, for it is wrongful restraint. No one has the right to do so for you have laws and regulations or strict action can be taken if the affected people complain to us. But it is the society’s internal matter and should be highlighted through their rules. It should not be forced on anyone for then, it becomes wrongful restraint.”