Illegal parking crackdown: Bengaluru to restart towing drive Citywide by month-end

With traffic congestion worsening, the Greater Bengaluru Authority plans to resume towing operations by month-end, targeting illegally parked vehicles across key corridors with strict fines and enforcement.

Bengaluru is set to see the return of large-scale towing operations as the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) prepares to act against growing traffic congestion and widespread parking violations across the city. Civic officials said the towing drive is likely to be rolled out by the end of this month in coordination with the Traffic Police.

The renewed enforcement will target vehicles parked illegally on roadsides, footpaths and even in front of houses. Such vehicles will be towed and fined under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. Officials confirmed that tenders have already been floated to hire towing vehicles on a rental basis, marking the first phase of operations.

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The initial towing drive will begin along busy stretches from Chalukya Circle to Hebbal and parts of the Outer Ring Road. Each city corporation is expected to get two towing vehicles, with the estimated cost per set pegged at ₹14.52 lakh. At present, only one towing vehicle is available within GBA limits, but more are expected to be inducted soon.

However, officials acknowledged challenges, including the absence of a central yard to park towed and abandoned vehicles, which could slow down full-scale implementation. Discussions are also underway to finalise towing charges, with a proposal to levy around ₹1,000 per vehicle, payable to the GBA.

The towing vehicles are expected to be formally handed over to the Traffic Police by the end of December. Authorities have already noticed repeated parking violations by two-wheelers, school vans and buses on several stretches.

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Under the new enforcement plan, two-wheelers violating parking rules will face a fine of ₹1,000, which includes ₹500 under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Other vehicles can be fined up to ₹1,500, combining penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act. Initially, enforcement will focus on high-traffic corridors before expanding to other areas.