Lack of parking space leads heavy vehicles to residential areas

NAVI MUMBAI: If it wasn’t bad enough that haphazardly parked cars and two-wheelers in the city were obstructing the flow of traffic, recently a number of heavy vehicles, including tankers and trucks carrying hazardous chemicals, have also started parked along roads in residential areas.

Despite repeated complaints from residents little has been done by officials to bring the situation under control.

The areas that are worst affected are residential areas of Airoli, CBD Belapur, Nerul and Kalamboli. In fact the problem has also spilt onto the proposed Palm Beach road in Ghansoli and sector 23 in Kopar Khairane.

Besides causing traffic snarls, these heavy vehicles also pose a threat to the safety of residents.

“Drivers are often seen cooking on gas stove inside the vehicles. This is very dangerous given that the trucks often carry inflammable material. It could cause a tragedy and claim lives,” said Shashikant Pandey, a resident of Kalamboli.

Further, residents also said that the truck drivers would often get into drunken brawls, thus making the area unsafe at night, especially for women.

A few years ago, a truck driver had even attempted to molest a minor boy in CBD Belpaur and the incident had led to a series of protests from locals. In Kalamboli, too, scuffles between residents and truck driver are an everyday affair.

Although trucks and tankers were banned from parking in residential areas following these incidents, they seem to have returned, thanks to the lack of vigilance from police officials.

“There is no designated parking spot for these trucks and tankers in the city. Hence, these heavy vehicles are seen parked along roads in residential areas. Although this will not cause a mishap, residents are upset with the truck drivers who often create a nuisance,” said Vijay Patil, deputy commissioner of police (traffic).

Patil said that the police would take action as soon as they received specific complaints from residents.

BACHCHAN KUMAR Truck drivers often get into drunken brawls at night, creating a ruckus in the residential areas.