The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified action against abandoned or unattended vehicles parked along the roadsides.
As many as 22 vehicles were confiscated recently, while the administration pasted notices on 18 more.
Officials said the action will be extended to all prominent roads in a phased manner. The confiscated vehicles are being kept at vacant plots identified by ward offices. The administration has been receiving complaints from citizens about unattended vehicles parked at roadsides for many days.
Madhav Jagtap, head of PMC’s anti encroachment department, said the unattended vehicles are not only obstructing road traffic, but hampering daily road-cleaning activities and causing unnecessary nuisance.
“Therefore, we have decided to intensify our action, which is planned in the jurisdiction of every ward office, which have been provided with one crane and other required machinery,” Jagtap said.
The unattended vehicles include cars and bikes. The administration will seize all such vehicles left unattended for many days.
Another official said every civic ward office has been told to paste notices on the abandoned vehicles. “The owners are expected to remove their vehicles themselves within a period of seven days after a notice is pasted on it. In case of failure of action by the owner, the administration will initiate steps to confiscate the vehicle. An owner can approach the civic administration to claim it by paying penalty.”
The administration has decided different removal charges ranging between INR 5,000 and INR 25,000 depending on the type of vehicle.
PMC sources said often, owners do not claim their vehicles for various reasons. “Owners hesitate if a vehicle is old or not in working condition, or has met with an accident. Sometimes the owner moves out of the city leaving their machines behind.”
Meanwhile, PMC has also decided to approach police and Regional Transport Office during the drive.
