MARGAO
In a major initiative, the Margao Municipal Council has issued a public notice for the removal of unused and abandoned vehicles from the roadsides in the commercial capital.
The public notice was issued by Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes after a meeting with DySP Traffic Prabodh Shirwaikar, wherein it was decided to hold a drive to tow away the unused and abandoned vehicles for auction.
The public notice gives 15 days time to citizens and owners of abandoned vehicles to remove these from the footpath and roadside within the deadline, failing which the MMC has warned that it would be forced to initiate punitive action, including seizing the vehicles and auctioning the same on as is where is basis.
Asserting that his attention was drawn to the unused and abandoned vehicles left on the roadsides within the MMC jurisdiction, the Chief Officer said these were causing inconvenience to pedestrians and a danger to the traffic flow.
“As per section 122 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, any vehicle found hampering pedestrian movement due to unclaimed, damaged and haphazard parking has to be removed. It is found that there is already congestion on the road and because of this it is causing public nuisance and endangering the lives of the motorists as well as pedestrians,” the Chief Officer said.
He pointed out that section 127 and 201 of the MV Act, 1988 is clear that if a motor vehicle is abandoned or unattended for 10 hours or more in a public place, causing impediment or being a barrier to the free flow of traffic, it can be removed by a towing service,” he said.
To a question, the Chief Officer said the DySP Traffic Prabodh Shirwaikar has agreed to share details of the number of abandoned and unused vehicles lying on the roadsides.
“The MMC will have to also arrange space to accommodate the vehicles once they are towed after the expiry of the 15-day deadline,” he added.
