Illegal parking troubles residents

The lanes and bylanes in many residential areas in the City seem to have turned into parking lots. Most of the time, the parked vehicles don’t belong to residents but are owned by commercial establishments and visitors to these places.

In semi-residential areas, the lanes are also being used for valet parking by hotels located there. Objections raised by the residents seem to have fallen on deaf ears. 

Residential areas such as HRBR Layout, Kammanahalli, parts of Kalyan Nagar, HSR Layout, Sadashivanagar, RMV Extension, areas near Ramaiah Hospital and Benson Town have fallen prey to random parking. The residents also complain of people consuming alcohol in their cars and sometimes, even women are spotted along with men in the parked cars. 

Officials with the traffic wing of the Bangalore Traffic Police say that parking is ‘strictly prohibited’ in residential areas. When asked about patrolling, officials with the law and order wing cite staff shortage as the reason for ineffective patrolling in residential areas.
 Metrolife visited a few residential areas to find out the problems faced by residents due to random parking and asked police officials (traffic and law and order) about the measures taken against this. Additional commissioner of police (traffic) B Dayananda points out that it is illegal to park in residential areas.

“Parking is prohibited in residential areas but we notice that this continues despite repeated warnings. The ‘no parking’ boards are erected only on main roads. We haven’t put too many boards in residential areas but that doesn’t mean people can park at will,” reasons Dayananda. 

When asked why some residential areas are used for valet parking, he says, “We have issued orders to commercial establishments, especially to hotels in residential spaces, to provide space for underground parking, in their own premises. But looks like this has not made a difference.” 

Hoysalas and Cheetahs are spotted moving around only on the main roads and are virtually missing in residential areas. Additional commissioner of police (law and order) Kamal Pant cites staff shortage as the main reason behind poor patrolling in residential areas, “There are about 3,000 vacancies to be filled in the police department, of which 2,300 vacancies fall under the law and order category.

This shortage limits our extent of patrolling but we have our police personnel who go on their night rounds,” shares Kamal. 

The residents complain that cars continued to be parked in front of their houses and in the premises. Saravana, a driver from Indiranagar, says, “After dusk, there are cars parked here and we often find couples doing all sorts of things. It is quite shameful.

People also indulge in drinking and one can find beer bottles at the spot the next morning.” Vinod, who runs a restaurant in Indiranagar, adds, “There is no police patrolling and we often find cars parked all along the roads.

It also restricts the free flow of vehicles.” Satish Kumar, a professional and resident of Cox Town, concludes, “Looks like residential areas have become safe havens for nefarious activities such as consuming alcohol, taking drugs and even sexual activities.

We have families and our children are witness to such happenings. The authorities aren’t bothered to check on these things through effective policing.”