Patna, March 8: Motorists are caught between the devil and the deep sea. On one hand, vendors are doing brisk business on parking lots, leaving no room for cars. On the other, police are towing away vehicles left at no-parking areas for space crunch.

The parking lot in front of Biscoumaun Towers is a picture of disorder as more than five makeshift stalls selling juice, tea and other eatables have eaten into the parking space.

“The condition here has improved in the past 10 days. Earlier, there were a number of stalls and they had almost captured the entire parking lot. Getting a parking slot here after 11am was almost impossible. At present, tables have replaced the stalls. But they need to be removed to ensure parking space,” said Mohammed Kaiser, a resident of Alamganj.

Daily commuters said requesting the owners of these stalls to move their carts could spell trouble.

“There have been many fights and arguments. They turn violent and gang up to thrash you. So the best way is to keep mum and avoid hassles. Last month, I could not find a parking space here and was forced to park opposite the building. I was fined Rs 100 for that. This does not make sense,” said Shaaban Ali, a motorist.

Same was the scene at Mauryalok Complex near Dakbungalow roundabout. Motorists have a tough time parking their vehicles because of encroachments there also.

“Why can’t the police remove them completely? It is obvious that the cops connive with these shopkeepers. The condition worsens in the evening when the number of stalls selling Chinese and South Indian food, tea, ice cream and other food items multiply. It is a nightmare for car owners in the weekends. At times I got stuck for an hour just to get a parking slot,” said Jagdish Kumar, a businessman.

The parking lot on Exhibition Road has also been encroached upon. With carts selling food items, motorists hardly find a place to park their vehicles.

The owners of these carts (thelas) said they had nowhere to go.

“We have to earn our living too. Mauryalok Complex is a good place, as the place remains crowded all the time. We do brisk business here. We ensure not to inconvenience parking of vehicles. The administration can easily earmark a part of the complex for us if they think there is a problem,” a stall owner said.

He added there have been times when they had been asked to move out.

“We go away for a while and then come back. The police do not mind, as they take money from us each evening,” he added.

The traffic police, though, refused to acknowledge that encroachment in the form of makeshift food stalls exists in parking lots.

A senior police officer of the traffic wing told The Telegraph people aware of such encroachments should apprise the police and immediate action would be initiated.

“Encroachments in the form of makeshift stalls don’t exist in the parking areas. The area in front of Mega Mart on Frazer Road, Buddha Park, Maharaja Complex and other places are designated parking lots and there are no encroachments. There were some encroachments in front of Biscomaun Towers, but small tables have replaced the carts. The police are looking into the problem. Daily commuters can alert the police and action would be taken immediately,” said Tauhid Pervez, the deputy superintendent of police (traffic I).