Illegally parked vehicles are disrupting the smooth flow of traffic on arterial roads and neighbourhood streets across the capital city. Social media platforms and neighbourhood WhatsApp groups are rife with complaints, with many residents pointing out that unlawful and disorderly parking in residential areas infringes on citizens’ rights and poses a serious public safety risk. 

Disorderly parking, along with construction materials dumped on roads, has worsened traffic and imperilled pedestrian safety by forcing walkers onto busy carriageways, putting them into conflict with fast-moving vehicles. Sr. Sebin Fernandez, Principal, Holy Angels’ Convent Higher Secondary School, Vanchiyoor, said disorderly parking creates hazardous conditions for school students. 

Dr. Unnikrishnan, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Government Medical College Hospital, says heedless overnight parking on both sides of the road, including private cars and pick-up autorickshaws, impeded vehicle flow through the narrow road in his neighbourhood, often impeding him from reporting for work on time. 

Another resident said school vans bypass her neighbourhood because of careless parking, forcing her, and others like her, to drop their children off at school. She added that repeated complaints to the local police and also the municipal ward councillor had yielded no results. 

In scores of urban neighbourhoods, private vehicle owners have turned roads into permanent parking stretches, blocking motorists and pedestrians, including senior citizens and persons with physical disabilities. 

Arun Chandran, Principal Scientist, Traffic Engineering and Safety Division, KSCSTE, NATPAC, said that roadside parking on narrow roads directly reduces their carrying capacity. ”Higher fuel consumption, reduced road efficiency, and longer commuting time are the fallout of the parking violations”, he said. Mr. Chandran said parked vehicles obstruct visibility and reduce the effective width of footpaths, forcing pedestrians into traffic. 

Abandoning a vehicle on the road or leaving it in a dangerous and obstructive position that impedes the smooth flow of traffic is a punishable offence under the Motor Vehicle Act, and the police are empowered to tow the vehicle and impose a fine of up to ₹15,000 on the registered owner. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic South) Suresh Kumar said obstructive parking remains one of the major traffic violations in the city. Although Thiruvananthapuram has 27 designated pay-and-park facilities, many motorists continue to leave their vehicles along roadsides.

Malavika Devi J.R. is an intern with The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram