Patna, Aug. 2: Visitors to P&M Mall — the latest hotspot in the town — would have to be on their best traffic behaviour. Alarmed by the complaints of residents of the area, police have decided to act tough with motorists not parking their cars properly. Besides penalising the rule violators, cops might tow away their vehicles.

Sources said the move to check errant motorists could have an adverse effect on the frequency and number of visitors to the mall.

The Telegraph had reported the traffic chaos outside P&M Mall in its August 1, 2011, edition.

Patna city superintendent of police (SP) Shivdeep Lande, who also holds the additional charge of the traffic SP, said the complaints had become a frequent affair.

“Each day we get a lot of complaints and petitions about the troubles faced by the residents in the area because of the traffic chaos. They complain about traffic snarls, especially during the weekends. There are also some schools in the area and they have complained that vehicles of visitors to the mall have been parked on the campus of the educational institutes. This causes problems for the students and the school buses,” the officer said.

Lande had earlier told The Telegraph that the authorities of the shopping mall had been sent two reminders about the parking problem.

“They have not taken any step to ensure that the place remains snarl free. The parking area of the mall is very small. When it gets full, the mall closes its gates and visitors park two-wheelers and four-wheelers anywhere on the road. The road that leads to the mall is also very narrow. Hence, traffic snarls are common. The mall authorities have been given some time to make alternative arrangements. After August 15, the police will just tow away any vehicle found parked outside the mall,” the officer said.

Sources said the management of the mall had been provided a number of alternatives.

“The mall is located in the Patliputra Industrial Area. There are a lot of empty spaces around the mall. These can be used as parking space. When the mall was being constructed, the management should have thought about possible parking problems. They could have come up with an underground parking system. They still have some options,” another police officer said.

V.N. Mishra, the general manager of P&M Mall, said their business might be affected by the police action.

“Our business might be affected but we don’t want commuters to face any hassle. Any step taken by the police is welcome. We have a parking facility for 1,000 bikes and 600 cars at present,” said Mishra.

He said: “All the problems are not caused by visitors to the mall. Autorickshaws are also responsible for the snarls. Vendors have also encroached upon the road, complicating the problem.”

Mishra said: “We got a letter from the police and have replied. We have approached Patliputra Co-operative Society to provide us unused land on the premises of Notre Dame Academy. We will maintain the plot if we are allowed to use it.”