Police break their own rules outside Commissionerate

Mumbai: Walking on the road in the city’s crowded areas like Crawford Market or near the Police Commissonerate, is a veritable nightmare for pedestrians as all the footpaths are taken over by two-wheelers. Most of these two-wheelers belong to police personnel, a fact that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai Police Traffic department are aware of.

Despite the penalties and fines laid down by the civic and traffic departments, errant parking continues, especially at the Police Commissonerate’s office. In fact, illegal parking on footpaths meant for pedestrians have become the norm at most places in the city.

When asked about the parking menace and about cops flouting their own rules, joint commissioner of police, traffic, Amitesh Kumar said, “We will certainly take action. Violating rules by policemen is not at all acceptable and we will certainly remove the bikes and make footpath free for pedestrians.”

Talking to The Asian Age, pedestrian Ashalata Pradhan (63) said, “Where to walk is the big question.  The entire footpath is being occupied by these policemen’s vehicles. Since I am scared of walking on road due to traffic, I have to use the footpath and I often get hurt by their handles.” Another pedestrian, Shobha Jagtap (58) said, “The footpath is for us, not for these bikes. Why are they breaking rules and setting such a wrong example to society.”

“If a common person would have parked their bikes on this footpath, traffic police would have taken immediate action. But since there is a ‘Police ’ tag embossed on the vehicles, no action is permitted it seems,” said Minto Sharma.