Sambalpur, June 18: The municipal corporation's decision to act tough on illegal parking in the town has started paying dividends and considerably less people have been flouting rules lately.

The corporation has started imposing fine on vehicles, which are found parked beyond the while line marked on the road, from May 9. It had conducted adequate awareness about the rule before enforcing it.

"A team, including the officials of the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation, regional transport office and police, has been formed for this purpose. The team has slapped fines on a number of two and four-wheelers in the last couple of weeks," said deputy commissioner of the municipal corporation Sudhansu Bhoi.

The civic body is slapping a fine of Rs 1,000 on the four-wheelers and Rs 300 on two-wheelers. The authorities have also engaged a truck to tow away the vehicles, parked haphazardly.

Bhoi said that the drive would continue.

"Along with fining drivers for haphazard parking, we have also continued to announce about the rule," he said.

The city residents have welcomed the move and they hope the corporation would also be able to solve the problem of traffic congestion.

"Haphazard parking is one of the major reasons behind the traffic problem in Sambalpur. Several roads in the city are narrow and improper parking along these roads adds to the problem. If the rule of penalising for haphazard parking is enforced strictly, the problem will be resolved to some extent," said Anand Pradhan, a resident of the city.

Another resident, Pankaj Behera, said: "This is a good initiative by the municipal corporation. This will help resolve the traffic problems on the city roads. However, along with penalising for unruly parking, the corporation should also get to the root of the problem. The absence of the designated parking place in the city is the reason behind of chaotic parking. The corporation should also think of developing a designated parking area in the city."