mid-day IMPACT: Mumbai traffic police crack down on illegal parking in Vile Parle

Autorickshaws are parked outside residential buildings in Vile Parle East on May 28. PIC/RANE ASHISH

After mid-day highlighted how Gandhi Society Road in Vile Parle East had turned into a siesta spot for cab and auto drivers, making it difficult for residents to park their vehicles in front of their homes, the Mumbai traffic police swung into action, cracking down on illegal parking in the area.

The same stretch on Sunday, after the Vakola Traffic Division swung into action. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajit Borhade late on Saturday sent mid-day an update which read, "In response to the aforementioned news report - which highlighted that auto-rickshaws and tourist vehicles are frequently parked unauthorisedly on both sides of the road between 2 pm and 4 pm, causing inconvenience to residents and obstructing the parking of their private vehicles - Assistant Police Inspector Patil and his team from the Vakola Traffic Division visited the site on May 29. Consequently, e-challan action was initiated against 60 autorickshaws and tourist vehicles under Section 122/177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1978. Furthermore, the drivers of these vehicles were issued a stern warning not to park their vehicles at this location in the future."

Taxis are parked outside residential buildings on Gandhi Society Road in Vile Parle East on May 28. PIC/RANE ASHISH

Why area became ‘picnic spot'

Previously, when mid-day visited the spot, a few auto drivers, explaining why they preferred to park their vehicles in the lane, said the area is comparatively cool and shaded with the trees protecting them from the harsh summer sun.

Vile Parle residents, on the other hand, alleged that the road had become a hotspot for parking after the Mumbai Traffic Police had begun taking action against vehicles parked on the Western Express Highway and Sahar Road.

Resident Speak

The same stretch on Sunday, after the Vakola Traffic Division swung into action. PIC/By Special Arrangement

Dhyaneshawri Joglekar,
‘As of Sunday evening, there were only two to three autos parked in front of my house, which is lower than usual. Now that the traffic police have stepped in, we hope that the situation stays this way'

A vile parle local, who requested anonymity
‘A few days ago, a fight broke out between auto drivers late at night, but now that action has been taken by the traffic police, I hope we don't see such tiffs between auto or cab drivers here'

A man, who resides at the Nehru Road end of Gandhi Society Road
‘There were times when I had to tell women visitors to call me after reaching the area, as I feared that an auto or taxi driver would misbehave with them, though nothing of the sort has happened. I'm glad that there are fewer autos parked idly here, but I hope things don't go back to square one'

2 pm and 4 pm
Time autos and taxis were parked on Gujarat Society Road