Tow trucks penalising only 8 vehicles a day in CBD: Data

BENGALURU: Tow trucks ferrying illegally parked two-wheelers and cars is a common sight on MG Road and its neighbouring areas. While a single vehicle can be seen ferrying at least eight two-wheelers in each trip, official data show only six to eight vehicles are being towed away and penalised in a day in the area, pointing to a possible pilferage in penalty collections.

As per data accessed by TOI from the police department, Cubbon Park traffic police towed away 145 vehicles — 97 two-wheelers and 48 cars — in the first 15 days of June. The number of vehicles towed away by Ashoknagar traffic police during the fortnight was 54 (33 two-wheelers and 21 cars). There were no significant changes in the numbers in the next 10 days.
M G Road, Brigade Road, Church Street and their neighbourhood fall under the jurisdiction of Cubbon Park and Ashoknagar traffic police stations, which have deployed a towing vehicle each in their area.
TOI spoke to people engaged in towing vehicles and also observed their operations. While each tow truck carries at least eight vehicles, it also does at least eight trips in a day. According to this, the daily haul of each tow truck should be at least 60.
A chat with a traffic police officer, who was on his sixth round for the day, revealed the truck had already towed away 30 bikes and four cars. “It takes 45 minutes to finish one round, which includes loading and unloading the vehicles,” the official added.
Traffic police officials told TOI that if any vehicle is docked for illegal parking, the motorist needs to pay fine for illegal parking and towing charges. “While the parking fine is only Rs 100, the towing charges will be Rs 650 for a bike and Rs 1,000 for four-wheelers,” the said.
Asked about the data, additional commissioner of police traffic P Harishekaran only said a review meeting would be held on Tuesday to sort out problems in the workings of tow trucks. “We have also received a lot of complaints. I’ll personally look into the matter on Tuesday,” he added.
Harishekaran inspects towing ops
On Monday, additional commissioner of traffic P Harishekaran sat inside a tow truck in Cottonpet and oversaw the ferrying away of 10 vehicles. He then went to Upparpet, Koramangala and Indiranagar and witnessed the towing away of another 35 vehicles. Later, he shifted to Suleman Ground in Ashoknagar, where nearly a dozen tow trucks were waiting for inspection.
Harishekaran said he had received complaints of fines being collected without issuing receipts for various traffic violations. On speaking to tow truck personnel, he was surprised to know that the contractors had given away sub-contracts and the subcontractors weren’t producing challans. Harishekaran said if any subcontractors are seen in the tow trucks, the licence of such vehicles would be cancelled.
"Every tow truck must have one inspector and challan has to be produced to the defaulter. The data of the challan produced must be given to the DCP (traffic) concerned for documentation. If any vehicle is towed away without challan, the inspector will be held responsible," he said.