Gurgaon: DLF phase 3 residents claim encroachment by cab drivers

Taxi drivers have encroached upon vacant plots in DLF City phase 3 to park their vehicles. Local residents have complained that hundreds of taxis have taken over roads, green belts and pavements.

Taxi drivers have encroached upon vacant plots in DLF City phase 3 to park their vehicles. Local residents have complained that hundreds of taxis have taken over roads, green belts and pavements.

According to residents, taxi drivers have also taken over parking spaces in markets, forcing people to park their vehicles on the main roads.(Parveen Kumar/HT)

According to residents, taxi drivers have also taken over parking spaces in markets, forcing people to park their vehicles on the main roads.

“We can no longer park our cars in the market area. The taxi drivers take over all the space and we have to risk parking our vehicles on the roadside,” said Gaurav Singh, a resident.

Driving from Siris Road towards Moulsari Avenue one can find taxis parked on the main road. An employee of the taxi stand there said they have been using the space to park taxis for around five years. “We always park our taxis here and no one has ever asked us to move them,’’ he said, adding that taxis are more in demand in this area and it is the nearest parking spot from the highway.

Residents claimed there are close to 20 taxi stands in the area, each occupying public land.

The resident welfare association (RWA) has repeatedly complained to the civic authorities and police regarding encroachment of public land by roadside hawkers and taxi stands. “Cars are parked on the main road and sometimes even on the pedestrian paths. The civic agencies should ensure that pedestrians’ right of way is not blocked. How is it that the civic agency is not able to do anything to reclaim its own land?” said Madan Yadav, former RWA president.

Residents also claimed that the taxi drivers ogle at the women walking past the vacant plots.

“I do not feel safe walking down the empty lanes at night as the drivers sitting in groups playing cards ogle at us sometimes,” said Prerna Singh, of block V.

DCP (East) Deepak Saharan said, “We have deployed a team to check illegal parking and the vacant plots used by the taxi stand and drivers. We will take prompt action.”