The city police have taken up a clean-up drive to get rid of seized vehicles and other movable properties that not only consume space on the premises of police stations, but are also an eyesore at a few of the newly built facilities

At many police stations, seized vehicles spill on to roads, obstructing traffic. “As many as 9,000 vehicles were auctioned after obtaining due permission from the court and the amount collected has been deposited with the state’s treasury,” City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said on Tuesday.

These vehicles have been lying unclaimed at various stations over a long period of time, some involved in crimes, accidents and other litigations. “Another set of vehicles, around 3,500 of them, will be auctioned by July. By this year end, we will clear at least 12,000 such vehicles. They not only eat away space on the premises of police stations, but are also an eyesore,” Sood said.

Apart from vehicles, Sood has ordered his subordinates to give away other properties and goods that are seized from criminals to their rightful owners after obtaining permission from court.

The police commissioner, on Tuesday, gave away recovered gold chains to 15 women who were victims of chain-snatching in northern Bengaluru. “We want our tables and premises clean, without any mess, so that we can do quality work,” Sood said.