BBMP, traffic cops crack whip on buildings denying visitors' parking

The Bengaluru city traffic police and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike have launched a crackdown on apartments and commercial units that ban visitors'   parking.

The police, who are preparing a list of buildings displaying 'no entry' boards for visitors, have identified 100 properties. They say the buildings would be asked to remove any restrictions on parking for visitors.

"The building owners will be notified soon," Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra said. "They'll be asked to make space for visitors."

Despite being required to allot 10% of space inside their premises for visitors' parking, most apartments deny entry to them. Inconvenienced visitors are forced to park on the roadside, obstructing traffic, the ACP explained. BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad said the civic body is monitoring apartments and commercial units laying restrictions on visitors' vehicles. "They have to remove the 'no parking' boards," he said, adding, "If they fail to do so, we'll issue notices to the building owners, warning penal action."

BBMP officials have removed 'no entry' boards in New BEL Road and have notified buildings in Sanjaynagar area, too. The compulsion on visitors to park on the roadside is far too common in the city center, where vehicles occupy considerable space on the already narrow roads and cause dreadful traffic congestion. The BBMP commissioner explained that apartments show parking space for visitors while obtaining Occupancy Certificates, but builders offer it to private establishments or residents as additional parking area by collecting extra money.

"We've issued notice to all commercial buildings that the basement area should be used only for parking and they cannot rent out the space for other commercial establishments," Prasad said. "People noticing violations can file a complaint with the (BBMP) zonal additional/joint commissioners."