‘Buses Driven Rashly will be Seized- Rs 31 Lakhs Collected in Towing Fines’- Police Commissioner
‘Buses found Honking & Driving in Rash will be Seized- Rs 31 Lakhs Collected in Towing Fines since March 2019’- Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil, during Phone-In- Programme
Mangaluru : On basis of complaints by citizens regarding city bus driving in rash, and honking when not needed, Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil during the Phone-In-Programme took task of Dilraj Alva, the President of DK Bus Owners’Association, and warned him that stern action will be taken against driving rash and honking unnecessarily, and even buses could be seized, if they violate repeatedly. With the police continuing to get complaints of bus drivers honking, halting midway on roads and negligent driving, city police were contemplating taking action against owners of such buses, added Patil.
A caller from Urwa Market asked police to take action against city buses that stop near Lady Hill Circle and cause obstruction to vehicles taking free left turn towards Lalbagh. The parking of vehicles on both sides of the road between Mannagudde and Car Street has defeated the purpose of widening the road stretch, the caller said. When a caller from Deralakatte sought fixed autorickshaw fares for different routes in the city, Mr. Patil said the issue would be brought before the Regional Transport Authority headed by Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil.
Regarding trafficking of cattle, Patil said that special squads have been formed to check the increasing incidents of such issues. Among many complaints from callers were pertaining to haphazard parking of vehicles causing inconveniences to the public. Regarding bad condition of NH’s and service roads filled with potholes during recent rains, Police Commissioner directed the police officials to write to National Highway Authority of India on the pathetic condition of the NH and service road, and the absence of drainage to drain the rainwater.
One caller said that students of Karavali College of Engineering near Neermarga are always seen buying cigarettes and smoking in the vicinity from a petty shop near to the college- and in response Patil said that he will strictly try to implement the Cigarettes and other Products Act (COPTA) , and if needed will shift that shop from the college vicinity.
It was also briefed that amid Mangaluru motorists’ ire over their vehicles being towed away, the city traffic police have collected over Rs31 lakh in fine by towing away about 3,800 two-wheelers and 265 four-wheelers since towing vehicles were pressed into service on 1 March 2019. The entire fine amount, however, does not go to the government as nearly half of it is shared with the entity providing towing vehicle service to the police. In essence, the government got Rs 17.73 lakh and the private operator Rs 13.67 lakh.
While there are not many complaining about damage to their vehicles when being towed away, motorists are crying hoarse over vehicles being towed though they are not parked in ‘no-parking’ zones. They are also upset that towing vehicle personnel, including traffic police personnel accompanying them, do not give an early warning before taking away the vehicles.
Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil said that the towing system was being fine tuned and shortcomings would be addressed. Prior announcement was mandatory and suitable instructions would be given to the concerned to follow the rules, he said. Regarding vehicles not parked in ‘no-parking’ zones being towed away, Patil said if such vehicles were found to be obstructing vehicular/pedestrian movement, they would be taken away irrespective of the zone.
He further said that Towing had brought in some sense of discipline among motorists in the city, and added that the police had written to Mangaluru City Corporation to provide adequate parking spaces. For lack of parking space, motorists indulge in haphazard parking, he said. The government may provide a portion of fine amount collected to respective commissionerate to utilize the same for traffic management infrastructure soon, added Patil.
DCP Lakhsmi Ganesh, Manjunath Shetty- ACP, Hanumantharaya-DCP-Law; K T Yogeshwaran- ASI, Purushotham-Head Constable; C M Diwakara- Police Inspector Traffic North; Harish K Patel- PI-Traffic East; and Krishnanand Naik- PI-Traffic South were present during the phone-in programme.
