A four-wheeler parked at a no-parking zone on Harmu Road in Ranchi on Thursday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Drivers across the capital, better start toeing the line. Ranchi traffic police has started towing illegally parked vehicles to thanas.

Bright yellow signboards saying, “Tow away zone” have been put up at strategic locations across the capital to alert four-wheelers, autos, bikes and scooters to park their vehicles at designated parking zones.

A brainchild of former SP (traffic) Rajiv Ranjan, Ranchi police finally have a solution to curb monstrous traffic jams created by illegal parking.

“We carried out a traffic awareness drive in the second week of October and found that illegally parked vehicles were the main reason behind traffic jams. These two-and-four-wheelers congest the by-lanes and create problems for pedestrians. At least, motorists and bikers now feel threatened that if they park their vehicles near yellow signboard, as it will take them days to bring vehicles back from the police station,” Ranjan, now transferred to Simdega, said.

Yellow signboards were put up by October 15. Places where such signboards have been come up include Bariatu Nursing Home, Jail More (near BJP leader Arjun Munda’s residence) near Ranchi Women’s College and Circular Road.

According to the Motor Vehicles’ Act, the owner has to shell out Rs 300 to claim the impounded vehicle from the local police station. Besides, he/she has to produce the vehicle’s registration papers, his/her licence and a photo ID card. “It takes around 12 to 15 days to free an impounded vehicle,” said a policeman.

The Act also has a list of fines to be levied for different errors. For instance, only Rs 100 is charged for driving sans helmet, wrong parking costs Rs 90 and if one violates the traffic signal, he/she will have to cough up Rs 100.

Though it has been only a little over 10 days that these signboards have come up, the result has been tremendous.

“We used to park our autorickshaws near Mundaji’s residence despite being traffic policemen asking us not to. However, after two autorickshaws were towed away to the nearest thana near Line Tank Road, we stopped parking vehicles here,” said auto driver Shailesh Yadav who ferries passengers between Booty More and Jail More.

When one passes through East Jail Road, a place where a similar signboard has been put up, the illegally parked bikes that were often seen blocking traffic are now gone.

“Every evening, a small vehicle — known as banjara in local parlance — used to be parked at a turning point and offered snack items. Soon, youths started gathering around it. We used to face problems crossing this particular stretch. But, thanks to the tow-away signboard, the area has become a traffic-free zone,” said Mridula Roy, a resident of East Jail Road.

Signboards have also brought smiles on the faces of Ranchi Women’s College girls.

“Yahan par bahut sare ladke apni bikes aur cars le kar khade rehete thhe aur traffic jam ho jata tha. (Many boys used to park their vehicles just near the college, causing traffic snarls). Not anymore,” said second-year physics student Preeti Barla.

Deputy superintendent of police (traffic) Ajay Mishra showered praise on Ranjan for the unique idea. “Signboards have been of great help to us during this festive season when many of our constables were on leave. The fear that their vehicle will be towed away if wrongly parked worked wonders,” he said.