Traffic snarls: MC to now tow away vehicles from markets in Ludhiana

LUDHIANA: With an aim to solve the traffic issues caused by wrongly parked vehicles in city markets, the municipal corporation (MC) has now decided to start a towaway system to lift these vehicles at its level after the MC general house gave the nod to the proposal in the meeting on Friday. Like traffic police, the civic body will hire a service provider for the purpose to look after the same.
The suggested fine for defaulting tow-away cars is Rs 1,500, Rs 1,100 for two-wheelers and Rs 2,500 for commercial heavy vehicles.
However, this plan has left the officials divided as some believe it will serve the purpose while some are saying this exercise will prove a big failure.
The employees in Tehbazaari (demolition) wing conduct various drives from time to time to lift the illegal vends from the roads. They can lift wrongly parked two-wheelers as well, but they do not have any provision for towing away the cars and other heavy vehicles.
The officials claimed that even though the MC has designated parking spaces in the city, people don’t park their vehicles there and instead leave them on the roads, leading to traffic. Towing away the vehicles can relieve the commuters and the fines would be imposed as per the pattern of traffic police, they said.
Without disclosing his name, senior official said, “Usually we request the traffic police for this task but they have their own engagements. Now that we have the approval from the house, we will hire a contractor.”
‘First give parking space’
While the residents have appreciated the move, they’ve demanded proper infrastructure from the MC first.
A resident of Civil City, Jatin Gupta said, “It is a good step that vehicles will be towed away if parked at the wrong place as it causes traffic mess, but before that officials should ensure public awareness and also display boards at various places cautioning people for no parking at that place or road.”
Many have also demanded for more parking space in the city before MC starts fining them.
Notably, the MC had attempted a similar thing a few years back where police deputed in MC were given power to tow away the vehicles. It was carried out for some time, but then corruption charges were raised against the cops so MC rolled back the decision.