Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Taking note of the traffic congestion on the city’s main roads, the municipal corporation has been towing four-wheelers on its own for the past year. For towing motorcycles and mopeds, trucks have been hired from a private agency. The mechanical section has informed that more than ₹30 lakh in fines has been recovered from two- and four-wheeler owners over the past year.
In 2023, a committee appointed by the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court decided to take action against vehicles parked on roads. The traffic police requested the municipal corporation to provide vehicles (tempos or trucks) and manpower. Accordingly, the corporation issued a tender and appointed a private agency. The traffic police and the corporation’s agency jointly carried out action against improperly parked vehicles. However, as citizens were being issued two separate fine receipts, complaints began to arise.
Corporation towing for four-wheelers; private towing vehicles for two-wheelers
In 2024, municipal commissioner G. Sreekanth decided that the corporation itself would handle vehicle towing. Resolutions to this effect were passed in the general body meeting and the standing committee, and the rates were fixed, ₹500 for two-wheelers and ₹2,000 for four-wheelers. The corporation then began work accordingly.
Since the corporation did not own towing vehicles for four-wheelers at the time, two towing vehicles were hired. These hired vehicles have now been returned. The corporation has purchased six towing vehicles of its own. At present, members of the Nagarik Mitra Pathak are taking action against vehicles using these vehicles. For action against two-wheelers, only vehicles from the private agency are being used, said executive engineer Amol Kulkarni. He also clarified that the ₹5,000 fine for four-wheelers has not been imposed so far. To date, ₹30 lakh has been recovered from errant vehicle owners.
Agency submits letter on February 12
On February 12, the private agency submitted a letter to the civic chief requesting immediate payment of its pending dues and stating that it does not wish to continue the work. The agency is no longer willing to provide vehicles on hire for towing two-wheelers. At present, the municipal commissioner is on leave. A final decision will be taken after his return, Kulkarni said.