Second-hand car dealers on MCD radar

To create more walking space for pedestrians, the MCD has decided to clear all kinds of encroachments from the footpaths.

To create more walking space for pedestrians, the MCD has decided to clear all kinds of encroachments from the footpaths. To begin with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will start taking action against second-hand car dealers who occupy the streets and the footpaths by lining up the cars for sale.

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The civic agency has decided to seize the cars and auction them.

The civic agency claimed that it has been carrying out several drives against second-hand car dealers who encroach upon public space, but the owners repeat the offence.

According to MCD officials, the action of impounding cars parked on public space and giving them back to dealers after collecting fines is having no effect on many of them.

“We have carried out drives in various MCD zones against second-hand car bazaars in which dealers keep their vehicles parked on public space. Generally, we impound the cars and give them back after collecting fines. But many of them do the same thing again,” MCD commissioner KS Mehra told a meeting of the civic agency’s Standing Committee on Wednesday.

The civic agency MCD is now contemplating disposing of cars impounded from repeat offenders, including the option of auctioning them, he said.

“They are doing it again and again. It is high time we take strict action. How many times can we fine them? We are trying to make them understand that keeping public space free is important,” added Mehra.

A week back the Environment Pollution Control Authority had issued directions to all land-owning agencies and the police to remove all the various kinds of encroachment and create walking space for the pedestrians.

The committee had asked all the land owning agencies to comply with its orders and has directed the police to take action against the encroachers.