Colaba residents clash with traffic police over pay-n-park

Mehroo Kotval, a senior citizen from Colaba, moved to the Dadar Parsi Colony late last year due to a persistent parking problem in her neighbourhood.

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI: Kotval shifted from her home of 47 years near Cusrow Baug in Colaba, choosing to no longer be a victim of the pay-n-park mafia and arbitrary fines from traffic constables.

Kotval says she coughed up fines totalling ₹4,500 for alleged parking violations on three occasions. "The parking issue was one of my major reasons for getting out. There are two taxi unions and there is no chance in hell to get a parking spot in Colaba any longer. I have excellent neighbours in the Parsi colony and I also have stack parking," she says.

Just like Kotval, other Colaba residents say it is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate the parking chaos in the neighbourhood. At the heart of the problem, they say, are corrupt pay-n-park attendants, who appear to have unchecked control over the system. Locals claim that traffic constables fine them ₹1,500 for parking in legitimate spaces, while also denying them parking spots. They ignore double-parking in the smaller lanes managed by parking attendants. No street in Colaba is spared, residents say.