Bengaluru: Earlier this week, the state govt began the relocation of 11,346 seized or abandoned vehicles lying in and around police stations across the city. As much as 26 acres of govt land has been identified at seven sites on the outskirts of the city for the purpose.Launching the relocation drive at Jayanagar 4th Block Wednesday, Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda said police and revenue departments had worked together to find a long-term solution to the problem that has persisted for over 15 years.“Many of these vehicles are linked to court cases and cannot simply be disposed of until the cases are resolved. We had made a special request to expedite the process, but the courts have clarified that such cases cannot be fast-tracked,” he said.With the vehicles unable to be disposed of immediately, police sought alternative land from the revenue department. The identified sites will now be used to park the vehicles, freeing up police station premises and surrounding public spaces.“Seeing such a scrap-like environment in the middle of a locality is unpleasant. It can also create opportunities for illegal activities. This has been an issue for the police department for 15-20 years. We intend to shift as many of these vehicles as possible within the next one month,” he said.The identified locations are Hagadur village in KR Pura hobli, Yerappanahalli village in Bidarahalli hobli, Hongasandra village in Begur hobli, Thammanayakanahalli village in Kasaba hobli of Anekal, Bagalur village in Jala hobli, and Bommashettihalli and Giddenahalli villages in Dasanapura hobli.The minister said notices have also been affixed to over 2,000 abandoned vehicles asking their owners to come forward and take them back. Vehicles for which there has been no response are now being towed.KBG questions civic spending, work qualityAt a Bengaluru urban zilla panchayat Karnataka Development Programme meeting Wednesday, Byre Gowda questioned officials over the quality of civic work and the utilisation of funds by gram panchayats.Questioning the repeated demand for funds to repair roads, the minister said a properly constructed road should last several years. He questioned whether Karnataka was spending less on road construction than other states and rejected explanations that traffic, vehicle density and rainfall were responsible for poor road durability.“If the work is done properly and a road lasts at least eight years, the money spent is justified. But if it gets damaged every two years, no amount of money will be enough,” he said.He also stressed that a portion of funds sanctioned to gram panchayats must be mandatorily used for permanent infrastructure, including drinking water, sewerage treatment plants, and electrical crematoriums.
