In a significant development for the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate, 28 police stations and 34 police posts that were clogged with unclaimed impounded vehicles have begun to get relief. The police have started shifting these vehicles to a newly constructed yard at Bagga Kalan village, located outside the city limits, as allotted by the government.
Background of the Yard Allocation
The land was provided by the Municipal Corporation to the Ludhiana police after Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjeev Arora promised to clear police station spaces and relocate impounded vehicles to a separate yard. Recently, the corporation allotted approximately 1.52 acres of land for this purpose.
Scale of the Problem
According to details accessed by The Tribune, police stations and posts currently hold 7,500 unclaimed seized vehicles. Notably, a considerable number of these vehicles have been lying at police stations for over a decade, many of which have turned into scrap with missing parts. Due to space constraints, some police stations had even dumped vehicles on roads, private plots, and parks, causing nuisance in residential areas.
Progress and Plans
Guriqbal Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Licensing and Security), stated that out of 7,500 vehicles, about 1,000 have already been moved to the Bagga Kalan yard. The process of shifting the remaining vehicles has been intensified, and soon all police stations in the commissionerate will have free space that can be utilized for other work.
“Though the vehicles are being shifted to a yard at Bagga Kalan, the Ludhiana police have already initiated the process to dispose of them through auction or by returning them to owners. Frequent meetings between the Regional Transport Authority, Drug Disposal Committee, and other departments are taking place to ensure timely disposal following norms,” Guriqbal added.
Sources revealed that about 2,000 vehicles have already been disposed of in the past year by the police.
Commissioner's Assurance
Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma told The Tribune that instructions to shift the vehicles to the yard have been given to all police station heads, and senior officials are overseeing the process. “All police stations and police posts in Ludhiana will have breathing space soon as the vehicles are being shifted to the yard. The police station heads are actively coordinating with nodal officers entrusted for the task,” he said.
Why Vehicles Pile Up at Police Stations
Vehicles accumulate at police stations because heavy fines deter most owners from claiming them. Many find it cheaper to buy a second-hand vehicle than to pay the fine imposed on the impounded one.
