Cops attempt to clear police stations of rusting, unclaimed vehicles in order to free precious space

Twenty-eight police stations across the city are struggling to rid their premises of almost 3,500 vehicles that have not been claimed for the last 10 years. The Bund Garden police station even sought the Sessions Court's permission to auction off the vehicles. The court has not responded to the request so far.

Space crunch
Now, the traffic department is trying to trace the owners of the vehicles that often have bogus numbers. Cops say many vehicle owners have already claimed insurance for the vehicles they lost to theft. Of the 3,500 vehicles, 10 per cent are four-wheelers and the rest are two-wheelers.

The space taken up by the unclaimed vehicles is huge u2014 three times that of the parking facility at the Pune Airport at Lohegaon which can accommodate only 1,000 vehicles. DCP Manoj Patil who kicked off a drive recently to trace the original owners of the vehicles said, "So far, with the help of Trafficop (a new software) we have traced owners of 300 vehicles. Sixty of these vehicles were registered as missing." The Chatushurngi police station has 250 vehicles parked in the premises. Owners of 51 vehicles have been traced so far, of which 17 were found to be involved in offences. The Bund Garden police station has over 75 such vehicles, including 10 cars. Senior Police Inspector Suhas Nadgauda of Bund Garden Police Station said, "We had filed a plea with the Sessions Court, seeking permission to auction unclaimed vehicles, two months ago. We are waiting for their response."

Owners found
The Hadapsar police station recently handed over eight bikes to their owners. However, 81 bikes, eight cars and five autorickshaws that have been rusting there since 1998 remain to be cleared. Senior Police Inspector Pandharinath Mandhare said, "The owners whose claims have been settled by insurance companies are unwilling to claim their vehicles. In case of outstation vehicles, tracing the owner becomes difficult."

Other uses
DCP Zone III Mahesh Patil of Chaturshungi police station added that if the vehicles are removed, the freed space could be better utilised. "We can use the space for multi-purpose activities for cops. We have plans in mind."