Over 150 vehicles were towed away while their owners were heavily fined in east Delhi's Vikas Marg by the district administration during a six-day long crackdown against encroachment and illegal parking.
The drive, carried out by the district administration along with East Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Police, was started on September 14 to free footpath from encroachment by parked vehicles and ease traffic congestion on Vikas Marg.
"We are very serious about getting Vikas Marg's footpath and service lane free for commuters. The drive has sent a strong message and we will continue with it. In a week we towed away 150 vehicles and imposed heavy fine.
"Due to encroachments on the footpath pedestrians were forced to walk on the busy road which is serious risk. Pedestrian movement on the main road cause traffic snarls," East Delhi's District Magistrate Kunal said.
The administration has also made an appeal to traders and residents to cooperate in keeping footpath free.
Locals and shop owners, however, claimed that though the drive has created fear among the commuters, the situation will not get better until the administration comes up with a permanent solution.
"There is no permanent solution till administration gives an alternate space to vendors and place to park the vehicle. This is a market and densely populated residential area so people will keep coming here. Parking problem of the area will remain as bad as ever," said Sandeep Jaiswal, a resident of Laxmi Nagar and charted accountant by profession.
Traders demanded dedicated parking lot for them and the customers coming to their shop.
