Prime areas worst hit due to illegal parking: DCP

Mangaluru: DCP (crime and traffic) K Ravi Shankar, Mangaluru, said that multiple violations related to footpath parking have been identified across the city, with several prime locations, including MG Road, marked among the most affected zones.He said areas near Shivabhag Junction, Falnir (Avery), St Agnes and VAS Bakery, Fiza by Nexus Mall in Pandeshwar, MG Road, stretches from Ballalbagh to Warehouse Road, Urwa Market Road, the stretch from Bishop’s House to Rashtrakavi M Govind Pai Circle, the left side of VT Road, and Car Street are among the worst-affected zones.According to official data, in 2025, a total of 8,635 parking offence cases were registered, resulting in fines amounting to Rs 47.2 lakh.

This included 6,096 general parking offence cases, 2,177 footpath parking cases, and 362 cases of vehicles parked at bus stops. In 2026 so far, a total of 2,294 cases have been registered, with fines amounting to Rs 12.4 lakh. This includes 1,523 parking offence cases, 710 footpath parking cases, and 61 cases of vehicles parked at bus stops.

Six accident cases were reported in 2025 due to such instances, while three accident cases have been reported in 2026 so far.

Meanwhile, DCP Ravi Shankar told TOI that the city lacks sufficient designated parking spaces to accommodate the growing number of vehicles. He said that in some areas, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has marked roadside spaces as parking zones and permitted vehicle parking, but these facilities are still insufficient to meet overall demand.He further noted that many commercial complexes, shopping centres, and retail buildings along major roads do not provide adequate parking facilities, which has worsened the situation. The traffic police face multiple enforcement challenges, including a shortage of designated parking spaces, continuous congestion, and the difficulty of balancing enforcement with rising parking demand.He also clarified that a poster circulating on social media claiming that citizens can send photographs to report illegal footpath parking is fake.