New Delhi: It is a familiar sight in the city. Roads that should see a steady flow of traffic are clogged with stationary vehicles, stubbornly occupying every inch of space. From upscale neighbourhoods like Greater Kailash and Nehru Place to the bustling streets of Punjabi Bagh, it’s not just the roads; every conceivable corner — be it footpaths or cycle tracks — has been swallowed by cars parked haphazardly.As per Delhi Traffic Police data, in 2024, more than 16 lakh vehicles were prosecuted for improper parking. This means roughly 1.3 lakh vehicles were prosecuted on an average every month.
This year, the trend shows no sign of slowing down. The data shows that till May 15, almost 5.8 lakh vehicles were prosecuted for improper parking. Thus, on an average, traffic police imposed 1.1 lakh fines a month, prosecuting more than 4,000 vehicles every day.IGI airport circle topped the list with 29,918 prosecutions, followed by Tilak Nagar (27,695), Punjabi Bagh (20,323) and Najafgarh (19,913). Areas like Rohini (19,549), Karol Bagh (19,371) and Safdarjung Enclave (18,964) didn’t fare much better.“It’s a layered problem,” said Ashok Chordia, a resident of Chhatarpur. “Footpaths have become garages, markets are choked with vendor vehicles, and commuters park anywhere near Metro stations to avoid the long walks. Every locality has its parking mess, and there’s no easy fix. We need strict enforcement, better planning and a serious shift in how we think about cars.” B S Vohra, another resident, said, “Presence of more cops at some spots and better parking facilities by the govt agencies can also help resolve the issue.”According to Chetan Sharma, chairman, Federation of GKII Complex RWAs, “Parking is likely a matter of ego. People park their luxury vehicles anywhere, thinking rules don’t apply to them. One wrongly parked car can create chaos for an entire colony. It’s about bad driving habits and a disregard for public spaces. Cabs have only made it worse.”Special CP Ajay Chaudhary said, “Our teams are working round-the-clock to manage Delhi’s roads. Parking violations are a daily challenge as the city’s vehicle count grows and walking habits decline. We are prioritising action against vehicles with several pending challans. Our efforts include both enforcement and awareness drives.”According to experts, the situation stems from various factors, with one key reason being the sheer volume of new vehicles — about 1,800 — being added to Delhi’s roads every day. Then there is also the unchecked commercialisation in many areas. For instance, at first glance, the stretch from Lady Shri Ram College to Nehru Place appears like any other busy commercial zone, packed with shops, Metro commuters and traffic. But a closer look reveals pedestrians have been squeezed to the margins. Footpaths, meant for walkers, are instead dotted with two-wheelers and cars, often parked brazenly under ‘No Parking’ signs. Anil Chikara, transport expert and former deputy commissioner of transport, said, “In cities like Delhi, improper parking seems to be directly proportional to ownership of vehicles and inversely proportional to the parking space available. This is due to vulnerable last-mile connectivity and a preference for comfort mobility. The MV Act provisions are very feeble to deal with improper parking, as they allow drivers to park if they are available in the vehicle in a public place. This provision is misused by e-rickshaws and autos, which occupy more than 50% of the right of way.”“In markets, car-free zones must be notified by civic agencies. In Delhi, 80% of transit is below 6km as per studies. Robust, user-friendly last-mile connectivity can decongest roads by 50%. Delhi needs safe pedestrian options like skywalks, underpasses, subways and travelators where up to 1km or more is covered by walking. Instead of big buses, small vehicles and micro-management can help reduce personal vehicle dependency. Govt must ensure that public transport, including last-mile connectivity, is cheaper than private vehicles and available every 500 metres in the entire city,” he added.
