Mangaluru: Sandeep Patil, city police commissioner, warned that vehicles parked in spaces meant for pedestrians would be towed away, and directed motorists to refrain from doing so.

Patil was responding to the calls from some residents during the weekly phone-in programme on Friday. A woman aired grievances that elderly people face a lot of difficulties to move around Srinivas College junction in Pandeshwar, as footpaths are used as parking lots.

Another caller from Bejai KSRTC complained that executives from food ordering and delivery companies like Swiggy, Food Panda, My Road Runner, Uber Eats, Zomato and others, who come to pick up parcels from a nearby, restaurant, block the way to his house by parking their vehicles in the no-parking zone.

A resident from Kottara Chowki drew the top cop’s attention towards haphazard parking on the service road of the highway while another from Urwa Market area requested for ban on parking on the road near a restaurant, stating that it was causing difficulty for motorists while taking a U-turn. Another wanted the flower vendors operating on the footpath near Mannagudda to be removed.
In reply, Sandeep Patil said that the vehicles parked on the footpath can be towed away, but they are finding it difficult to act against all such violators as they have just three towing vehicles available.

The callers said the buses halting on the middle of the road at bus stops like Kuloor, Kottara, TMA Pai Hall and others are causing hardships for both passengers and motorists.

In response to a caller about bus drivers talking on phones while driving, the top cop asked residents to record such violations in their cellphones, and send the video to the traffic WhatsApp number 9480802300, stating that suitable action will be taken. A caller from Panamburu said the trucks carrying sand, sulphur and urea should be strictly made to cover the vehicle body properly, as they are causing a nuisance for other motorists on the road.