Parked vehicles eat up 60% Bengaluru road space: Minister seeks regulatory body

Speaking at a meeting with former Mayors at Vidhana Soudha on Monday, Krishna Byre Gowda said expanding the city's road network alone would not solve its traffic problems. He called for stricter enforcement of parking rules, better use of existing road space and greater public discipline.Worsening traffic conditions in Bengaluru prompt minister to seek regulatory bodyThe worsening traffic congestion in Bengaluru has prompted the Karnataka government to consider a dedicated agency to regulate and enforce parking rules across the city, with Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda saying parked vehicles currently occupy nearly 60 per cent of the available road space.Speaking at a meeting with former Mayors at Vidhana Soudha on Monday, Gowda said expanding the city's road network alone would not solve its traffic problems. He called for stricter enforcement of parking rules, better use of existing road space and greater public discipline.“Unless people develop a sense of self-discipline, it will be impossible to find a solution to Bengaluru's traffic problem,” Gowda said.He pointed out that vehicles are often parked on both sides of even narrow roads, drastically reducing the space available for moving traffic. Gowda said the civic administration and police do not have adequate manpower to enforce parking regulations across the sprawling city. ENFORCEMENT COULD IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONSGowda said that systematic enforcement could improve traffic movement and reduce the daily inconvenience faced by commuters.The minister also advocated greater use of micromobility for short-distance journeys of up to two kilometres. However, he said this would require better footpaths and effective parking regulation. “We are already working to clear and restore footpaths. But micromobility cannot succeed without parking regulation,” he said.He also flagged the growing disregard for civic and building regulations. He cited unauthorised alterations to sewer lines and inadequate parking spaces in residential buildings as examples of violations that have become increasingly common.“People change sewer lines without following the rules and do not leave adequate space for parking in their own homes. Yet we continue to tolerate such behaviour. How long can this go on?” he asked.He said stricter enforcement of existing laws would be essential to address Bengaluru's long-standing civic and traffic problems.GPS TRACKING FOR WASTE VEHICLESThe minister also discussed construction and demolition waste management, saying registration and GPS tracking had been made mandatory for vehicles transporting C&D waste.He said such waste would have to be taken only to designated facilities, with five locations identified for disposal. The move is aimed at curbing illegal dumping of construction debris across Bengaluru.FORMER MAYORS’ PUSH FOR CIVIC REFORMSFormer Mayors at the meeting put forward several recommendations aimed at improving the city's infrastructure and civic administration.Their suggestions included adopting scientific and durable methods for pothole repairs, improving garbage management and expediting the Rs 2,000-crore stormwater drain development project. They also called for greater attention to buffer and traffic-bearing roads that could help ease congestion.The former Mayors sought improvements to cremation and burial grounds, public toilets and streetlights, along with regular maintenance of flyovers and inspections of the bearings of older structures.They also suggested setting up a dedicated asphalt plant for the civic body to reduce its dependence on private contractors for road asphalt.Other recommendations included strict action against roadside waste dumping, a complete ban on single-use plastic, monthly e-Khata camps and better maintenance of sewage treatment plants by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).The meeting also stressed better coordination between government departments to prevent unauthorised road cutting and called for sustained attention to potholes, garbage, streetlights and parks. Other proposals included improved implementation of individual house welfare schemes, better systems for tree pruning and branch removal, and upgraded play equipment in parks.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Aug 31, 2026 23:58 IST