The city police will not hesitate to book cases against owners of high-rise commercial buildings, who have illegally converted parking lots into commercial activity spaces thereby forcing customers to park vehicles on the road.
Interacting with presspersons after a weekly phone-in programme here on Friday, city Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh said the police action was not limited to owners of marriage halls, who let vehicles park on busy roads. The Mangaluru City Traffic Police, since a fortnight, are acting against such nuisance following public pressure.
Surprisingly, sanctioned plan violations for parking facility have been regularised by the Mangaluru City Corporation in some cases, Mr. Suresh said. Nevertheless, the police will act against building owners who do not allow parking of vehicles in the dedicated space forcing customers to park on busy roads, the Commissioner said. He also directed officials concerned to initiate action.
On July 8, the Dakshina Kannada district police began a crackdown by booking a marriage hall owner and manager at Narikombu village on National Highway 75 for forcing guests to park vehicles on the flanks of the highway and obstructing traffic movement. Bantwal town police registered a case under Section 283 of Indian Penal Code against for obstructing vehicular traffic on a public road and endangering public life.
Soon after, the city police too initiated similar action against marriage and convention hall owners and also locked wheels of vehicles parked on busy roads.
Earlier, during the phone-in, Commissionerate residents poured in grievances ranging from haphazard parking of vehicles on public roads to city buses skipping regular trips.
A caller from Alake said vehicles move at high speeds on the recently renovated Kulur Ferry Road via Kudroli and demanded restriction on speed. Mr. Suresh asked personnel to inspect the place and take necessary action.
A resident of Kodikal said four city buses from State Bank miss late evening trips while two from Kankanady miss Sunday trips to his place. A resident of Moodbidri complained about parking of buses by an educational institution near Hotel Ballal thereby inconveniencing residents of the area. A caller from Balmatta complained unchecked smoking in public place, particularly near the bus shelter in the area.
Mr. Suresh promised suitable action in all cases.
Deputy Commissioners of Police (Law and Order) Hanumantharaya and Uma Prashanth (Crime and Traffic), and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Manjunatha Shetty were present.
