Railways launches drive to check illegal parking

Thiruvananthapuram: To put an end to traffic congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central station, the railways has launched a special drive to check unauthorised parking. Vehicle owners who do not park their vehicle in the allotted space on the station premises will be penalised with double the premium parking rate of Rs 30 for two-wheelers and Rs 60 for four-wheelers. Those who refuse to pay the penalty fee will have their vehicles confiscated.
Station director Ajay Kaushik said even though sufficient space available with round the clock staff for parking under premium and non-premium rates, some people tend to park their vehicles in no parking zone.

“We have plenty of areas in parking and premium parking and have placed no parking signboard in several locations. Railway staff and RFP can manage the parking during morning and evening hours, but it is difficult to deploy staff for the whole day. The RPF are authorised to impose fine,” said Kaushik.

The railways has launched an anti-defacing drive, too. Individuals, business units, political or religious outfits defacing the station premises with posters and notices will be prosecuted under Sections 147 (Trespass) and 145 B (commits any nuisance) of Indian Railway Act 1989 ensuring deterrent punishments.

“People are not aware that they are not supposed to paste posters on railway property and it may invite a fine of Rs 500. The wall opposite to the KSRTC bus station belongs to railways, but many do not know that. We had conducted a cleaning drive in October, 2018, but people did not stop posting posters, so we started this new drive and fine will be slapped on violators. We will review the activities after one week to check if more manpower and awareness is needed to clear the unauthorised posters and to prevent unauthorised parking,” added Kaushik.