Cuttack: From next year, if you park your vehicle in a no-parking zone in the city, you will not find it in the same place when you return.

The traffic management committee, headed by the police commissioner, has decided to tow away vehicles (cars and other vehicles, including two-wheelers) parked illegally with the help of cranes.

"This will ensure that vehicles parked on roadside do not affect traffic movement. Vehicles parked on the roadside, especially four-wheelers, are causing huge traffic congestion in many places," said deputy commissioner of police (Cuttack) Akhileswar Singh.

The decision was taken at the monthly meeting of the committee on Friday.

Singh said: "We will start identification of 'no-parking zones' and expect to complete the process, put up signage and start the punitive measures against parking of vehicles in no parking zones when the New Year starts."

"Cranes will be hired for towing away vehicles parked on roads in the identified no-parking zones," Singh said.

"Apart from paying fines, the violators will also have to shell out for the crane-hiring expenses," he added.

At present, traffic violators are being fined between Rs 100 and Rs 500. Traffic officials said parking signboards installed to ease traffic congestion at various points have failed to meet the purpose as no one abides by the rules.

People are expected not to park vehicles within 30m on each side of major traffic junctions, but two and four-wheelers queue up in front of it. Notification of no-parking zones are considered necessary as autorickshaws and cars parked near traffic squares and roadside cause congestion and disrupt vehicular movement, said another official.