Where to park? Tussle intensifies in city

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

The sight of no parking boards on residential houses is not uncommon. Owners tend to get creative while simultaneously being passive-aggressive and hang these boards on their gates as well as around the premises.

Netizens have gotten into an argument over the legality and consequences of such boards and their opinions are divided. Homeowners say that the vehicle owners tend to park in front of their gates, leaving no room for movement in and out of the house, causing unnecessary trouble.

“Even if a two-wheeler is parked in front of my gate, we cannot move the vehicles parked inside my premises due to the blockage. If the vehicle owner is gone for a few minutes, the situation can be managed. However, if they abscond for a few hours, we can’t do much other than wait,” said Savithri Channabasappa, a homeowner in Attiguppe.

Many homeowners also complain that vehicle owners who choose to park on pavements and footpaths around their house tend to leave the vehicle for days on end. This not only causes issues for the homeowner who would regularly use the spot to park but also disrupts pedestrian mobility.

They also said the police do not take up these issues on priority, leaving them with no solution. Vehicle owners, on the other hand, are also against parking in front of gates but say homeowners behave as though they own the pavements and roads too, and harass them.

While the owner can request citizens to not park around the premises of their house, they cannot claim ownership or first right to the pavements. Vehicle owners have reported instances of coming back to the spot to find their car punctured or scratched.

“One wall graffiti near my house screams: "Do not park here, because we live here!" Shops, houses, everyone thinks they own the stretch around their place. If you dare, be ready to find your vehicle keyed or with a flat tyre,” Vallabhan tweeted. “They pretend to not understand and keep repeating "this is our parking". The worst offenders even put flower pots on the public road,” said Ritesh Banglani. While both the owners continue to tussle over the issue, the boards give on-goers a good chuckle.