He added that auctioning the old vehicles is only the first step in the recycling process and more needs to be done. They cannot be allowed to gather dust and use up this costly space,” said city-based transport analyst Ashok Datar. “Cars in working condition are paying parking charges and cars which are scrap occupy roads for free.
Transport experts blame this mess on BMC’s laxity in dealing with the abandoned vehicles. We have pasted 146 notices in one month and 70 more have been added to the list,” he said. They don’t get rid of their old cars as it holds a sentimental value for them and allow them to rot on the roads,” said Magar.Īn assistant engineer, maintenance, from K (east) ward in Andheri (E) said, “Most of the abandoned cars were found in Jogeshwari, Andheri and Vile Parle.
The abandoned vehicles are found mainly in wards like Andheri, Malad and Kurla, where there are garages and there are many who own more than three cars. “If the owner claims the car, a penalty between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 is charged for a four-wheeler. A 30-day period is given to the owners to claim the vehicles, which are kept at BMC’s scrap godowns in Worli, Andheri and Ghatkopar. Regarding the process to remove these vehicles, assistant municipal commissioner, Madhukar Magar said that BMC pastes a notice on abandoned vehicles and it is towed within 48 hours. The BMC’s action came after Mumbaikars have been repeatedly complaining to authorities regarding these abandoned vehicles which not only eat into already cramped streets but also pose a security risk.ĭecorator fined for hosting wedding at sports ground Hence, the city currently has lost 75,000 sq ft, or two acres, of land to this ‘encroachment’. Two months later, the BMC undertook another survey to check the ground reality, and found that 605 such cars were still occupying space on the roads. The first phase of the auction was held on August 23, when BMC invited tenders for 2,826 vehicles, through which the BMC earned a revenue of Rs 1.14 crore. So, 7,000 cars x 124 sq ft = 8.68 lakh sq ft = approx 20 acres of space, which has been lost to these vehicles. As per the official figure obtained from the Regional Transport Office (RTO), each abandoned car occupies approximately 7 ft x16 ft = 124 square foot space on the road.