Mumbai: In a crackdown on errant motorists who flout traffic rules, Navi Mumbai traffic police have cancelled many licenses. However, it appears that they have conveniently neglected the heavy vehicles parked on highways and service roads. It is observed that a large number of heavy vehicles are parked or stopped on the roads along Kalamboli-Mumbra highway, NH 4B near Naupada village, Taloja MIDC, Kalamboli Steel Market, Taloja Link Road and Asudgaon.
Due to minimal travelling space, number of accidents has increased tremendously in the night time. The vehicular movement from Panvel taluka to the Mumbai-Goa highway, JNPT road, and the expressway from Kalamboli area has increased drastically in the last few years.
Locals have alleged that since the traffic police are turning a blind eye to the parking mafia of the heavy vehicles, their number is increasing day-by-day. There is a similar trend of turning a blind eye to traffic violations near Taloja MIDC and Kalamboli Steel Market. The service road there is completely occupied by heavy vehicles.
\A local activist said on the request of anonymity, “If traffic rules like jumping a signal, not wearing a seatbelt or helmet is penalised by the police, then why not take action against the illegal parking of heavy vehicles on the highway and main roads in the city?” Only if these heavy vehicles were penalised, the traffic police would have minted money like anything.” The activist added that the number of vehicles is increased over the last two years, but the parking space remains constant.
This crunch of parking space has led to the unauthorised parking as there is no reserved plot for parking provided by Taloja MIDC, Kalamboli Steel Market. The Navi Mumbai traffic police said they were working on the unauthorised parking problems and are working towards zero traffic congestion on road. However, they refused to comment on the allegations of turning a blind eye for illegal parking of heavy vehicles.
