E-Paper
760 vehicle owners challaned on day one of drive to decongest Delhi
The agencies collected an amount of Rs4.97 lakh from defaulters on day one. They also impounded 80 vehicles that were parked illegally on the roadside and issued notices to 280 people for violating traffic norms.
In a joint drive to decongest 29 arterial roads in Delhi, the three municipal corporations and traffic police on Monday fined 760 vehicle owners.
The agencies collected an amount of Rs4.97 lakh from defaulters on day one. They also impounded 80 vehicles that were parked illegally on the roadside and issued notices to 280 people for violating traffic norms.
The drive was launched on Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s orders to make 29 worst-affected roads encroachment-free.
Some of the stretches targeted on the first day were Aurbindo Marg, Neela Gumbud to Ashram, Dwarka Mor under South DMC and Vikas Marg and GT Road under the east municipal corporation.
In north Delhi, the stretches from Vijay Nagar to Burari Chowk (Ring Road), Bhalswa to Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, Haiderpur-Sector 18 Rohini, Singhu Border Chowk and Britrannia Chowk to Anukamapa Chowk were covered under the drive.
“Except for some confusion at certain places, both the agencies performed very well on day one. We received all cooperation from the municipal bodies as their teams were present at the defined places to help traffic police staff,” said Garima Bhatnagar, joint commissioner of police (traffic).
The MCD’s licensing teams first asked the drivers/owners to remove vehicles parked illegally. “But those who didn’t remove were booked under section 321 and 322 of the Delhi Municipal Act,” said senior SDMC official.
According to the official, unlike the traffic police, the civic bodies impose the penalty based on the weight of the vehicle. The amount can vary from Rs 5000 to Rs 18,000.
The drive will continue in the coming days. The teams will continue to deter people from parking vehicles on the roadsides and pavements.
“The identified 29 roads cater to around 75% of Delhi’s traffic. They are encroached due to illegal parking, leaving no space to walk. The smooth flow of traffic is affected. At places, car dealers and other commercial establishments, including shops and malls, encourage customers to park vehicles on the roadside. They will have to remove their cars or else face action, including hefty fines,” said the official.
The impounded vehicles were taken to the MCD depots (meant for parking garbage trucks), workshops, vacant plots, pits and offices. “But due to space constraint, it wouldn’t be possible to lift all vehicles and so the authorities will mainly rely on creating awareness,” said MCD official.
The officials are requesting people to utilise authorised parking lots located near their shops and malls for parking.
