Pramesh S Jain
*Ensure strict monitoring of field-level officials for effective implementation.
*Traffic police to deploy dedicated personnel for the drive.
*Repeat footpath encroachers to face penalties.
Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda today directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan and a corporation-wise operational schedule to ensure the systematic and effective removal of abandoned vehicles parked along roadsides and in public spaces across the five City Corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
Addressing a virtual review meeting with officials on the progress of abandoned vehicle removal and footpath encroachment clearance drives,the Minister said that City Corporation officials must prepare a detailed operational plan and implement the drive in accordance with a well-defined schedule to significantly accelerate the removal of abandoned vehicles across the city.
He instructed senior officers to maintain continuous and strict oversight over the performance of field-level officials responsible for the drive.
Progress should be reviewed regularly, and all necessary measures should be taken to ensure effective and timely implementation.
Emphasising coordinated enforcement, the Minister directed that the Police Department and City Corporations work in close coordination during the abandoned vehicle removal drive.
Officials were asked to submit accurate data on vehicles identified, towed and subsequently released after payment of penalties.
He also instructed City Corporation Commissioners to issue public notices for auctioning abandoned vehicles that remain unclaimed for 15 days after notices have been affixed and the vehicles have been towed away.
*Dedicated Police Personnel to be Deployed:
To strengthen implementation of the abandoned vehicle removal drive,the Minister directed that each Traffic Police Station deploy two dedicated police personnel exclusively for this initiative.
He also instructed officials to deploy marshals alongside Ward Officers while serving notices on abandoned vehicles identified by the Police Department.
Penalty for Repeat Encroachers:
The Minister noted that encroachments have so far been cleared from 773 kilometres of footpaths across the city.
He directed officials to continue enforcement against footpath encroachments and to initiate strict action, including penalties as per the rules,against those who re-encroach after clearance.
He observed that in several locations where encroachments had been removed,vehicles were being parked on footpaths.Officials were instructed to prevent such violations.
He further directed them to examine the possibility of developing wider-than-required footpaths into aesthetically designed,citizen-friendly public spaces and amenities wherever feasible,while keeping public interest in mind.
Priority for Footpath Repairs:
The Minister directed that footpath repair works should be carried out simultaneously with encroachment removal across all five City Corporations.
He noted that the tendering process has already been completed in several locations and is in the final stages in others.
Officials were instructed to complete all pending tenders immediately and ensure the timely execution of footpath repair works.
Ensure Inter-Departmental Coordination:
The Minister emphasised that all departments concerned must work in close coordination to make Bengaluru’s roads and footpaths free from encroachments and abandoned vehicles.
Providing citizens with safe,clean and seamless mobility, he said,must remain the highest priority for every department involved.
Speaking at the meeting,Joint Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru Traffic) Karthik Reddy said that 6,576 abandoned vehicles have been identified across the city, including 2,533 by the Police Department and 4,043 reported by citizens.
Of these,notices have been served on 1,605 vehicles, while 263 vehicles have been towed.
Owners of the notified and towed vehicles have paid Rs.2.16 lakh in penalties and reclaimed their vehicles.
He added that the enforcement drive would be intensified in the coming days.
The virtual meeting was attended by Chief Commissioner,Maheshwar Rao;City Corporation Commissioners,Ramesh D.S,Pommal Sunil Kumar, Ramesh K.N,Dr.Rajendra K.V. and G.Jagadeesh; Additional Commissioners,Chief Engineers,Executive Engineers,officials from the Electrical Department, and officers from various other departments.
