For months now, around 200 seized vehicles, mostly autorickshaws, are rusting away at Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore with nobody coming forward to claim them. According to transport officials, the vehicles were confiscated during a special drive, carried out in various parts of the city, along with the police, against auto drivers who have either failed to install meters or have faulty ones. Those who did not possess any documents such as fitness certificate, vehicle insurance and road tax, were also hauled up.
“Many are not aware of the clause that passengers travelling in autorickshaws without permit will not be entitled to avail the insurance cover in the event of any accident,” says a transport official.
Moreover, the vehicles have been left in the open with no protection. At times, miscreants try to remove spare parts from these vehicles at night and they find it easy to sell them in the second-hand vehicles market in Pudupet, which is hardly a kilometre from the stadium.
As per rule, a seized vehicle should be returned in the condition in which it was found at the time of confiscation, once the owner produces the required documents and pays the fine, says the official.
“Leaving such seized vehicles uncared for will only cost the government exchequer as the transport department has to pay compensation if the owner moves court over any spare part that is found missing,” says K. Suresh Kumar, an advocate at Madras High Court.
“Despite repeated reminders, owners of the vehicles have not come to claim their vehicles,” says the transport official.
