Patna: The agency responsible for towing wrongly parked vehicles on the city roads has been sacked following an inquiry into the service.
Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishor and zonal inspector-general of police N.H. Khan took the decision on Monday following recommendation of a probe committee inquiring into the functioning of the jam buster service in Patna.
The Telegraph had earlier reported the committee's recommendation to discontinue the service offered by private firm Swadesh Towing Agency.
"We have decided to close the jam buster service by the private company with immediate effect. The government, in the coming days, will start the service but till then, it will not function in Patna," Kishor told The Telegraph over the phone as he is out of Patna.
The five-member inquiry team formed last November comprised senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj, city superintendent of police (central) D. Amarkesh, divisional commissioner's secretary K.N. Singh, district transport officer Ajay Kumar Thakur and a deputy superintendent-rank officer from Khan's office. It submitted the report in the first week of January.
"It was found that the jam-buster staff members were very rude and did not talk nicely with the people," Kishor said on the reason to discontinue the service. "They would also tow vehicles even in cases they were parked legally."
Sources in Kishor's office said more than the behaviour, the reason to close the service was the drain on the government's resources. The government, the sources said, was facing a big revenue loss as 90 per cent of the fine amount would go to the pockets of the private agency.
The service had been launched last August by traffic police to check unauthorised parking in the city.
At present, there are 12 jam buster trucks and on an average, the agency towed away 10-15 cars and 40-50 bikes daily at Rs 750 and Rs 345 penalty respectively. In both cases, the government received only Rs 100 each.
Kishor and Khan have also issued a showcause notice to the towing agency and Patna traffic superintendent of police P.K. Das, asking for an explanation. Das told The Telegraph: "Till date, this jam buster service in Patna was the best in India and I have not done any wrong in any of the vehicle towing."
