As many as 5,59,264 challans were issued this year by authorities for unauthorised parking in the national capital, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said this in a written reply to a question on some roads in New Delhi area which have been "turned into parking lots".
"Delhi Police has reported that regular action is taken by them against improper/obstructive/unauthorised parking of motor vehicles. Cranes are effectively utilised to tow away such vehicles which are found hampering the smooth movement of traffic," he said.
"5,59,264 challans were issued in 2016 till November 15 for obstructive or improper parking of motor vehicles, while 1,43,220 vehicles were towed away, and 29,119 vehicles were clamped," Ahir said in the reply.
With reference to Chelmsford Road, the Minister said the "Delhi Police has reported that 7,675 challans have been issued, 682 vehicles have been towed away, and 124 notices have been pasted against obstructive/improper parking of motor vehicles," during the same period.
To a question on whether the government has undertaken any study on the problems and impact on the drivers due to such encroachment, he said, "All the three municipal corporations of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council have informed that as per available record, no study on the problems and impact on the drivers due to encroachment have been carried out by them.
"Ministry of Defence has informed that Defence Forces have not forcibly occupied any road in DIZ Area and converted into vehicular parking lot," he said in reply to another question.
The minister in reply to a question relating to toll-free helpline of lodging civic complaints related to areas falling in NDMC and SDMC jurisdictions, said, the Delhi government has "further informed that no complaints relating to instances of misuse of power and negligence on the part of the government officials/staff is received on the above toll-free number".