Parking privilege for VVIPs on Brigade Road, police clueless

“Parking for VIP & VVIP Vehicles Only.” Proclaiming reserved space for the privileged class, this board has been put up in the name of Bengaluru Traffic Police right at the entrance of Brigade Road. But the city traffic police have no clue why its name is used on a stretch where parking is managed by the Brigade Road Shops’and Establishments’ Association (BSEA) and BBMP.

Motorists sought to know why the VVIP board had been installed on a public road. They had no issues with another board displayed a few blocks away on the same road, reserving parking space for vehicles operated by the physically handicapped. They were also ready to pay and park on the designated slots covered by automated parking meters.
When contacted, traffic police officials said they would never put up such a board in their jurisdiction.

“An assistant commissioner of police even said he would get the board removed. Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, M A Saleem reiterated that the police had nothing to do with such reservation of parking space on the Brigade Road stretch.

However, a BSEA office-bearer contended that it had put up the board in “concurrence” with the traffic police. The plan for allotting parking slots for VIPs, VVIPs and the physically handicapped was drawn up in its agreement with the BBMP. The Palike was aware of the arrangement, the BSEA person said.

The Association had inked an agreement with BBMP to instal automated parking meters on the showpiece stretch. The system was arguably the first such in the country, and had been inaugurated by the then chief minister Dharam Singh in June 2004.