218 Challans Issued for Illegal Parking in Dharamshala: Police Crack Down Under ITMS Surveillance

Dharamshala ,  August 7, 2025: In a major crackdown on unruly parking under a special campaign, Kangra District Police issued 218 challans for idle and illegal parking across the district on Tuesday, August 6. A large majority of these were for vehicles parked along the roads of Dharamshala, especially in high-traffic areas.

The police have raised concerns that haphazard roadside parking is not only disrupting smooth traffic flow but also posing serious safety risks to pedestrians and motorists alike. The situation is particularly alarming in McLeodganj, a key tourist hub, where narrow roads and heavy footfall already strain the local traffic system.

"Disorderly roadside parking is a punishable offence under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988," the police stated, adding that surveillance through Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) has been intensified. Offenders are now being penalized with challans, vehicle seizure, and other legal actions.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Hitesh Lakhanpal said, “Under the Safe City initiative of the Smart City Project, we have installed six ITMS units in Dharamshala to monitor traffic violations round-the-clock. More systems are in the pipeline, and traffic lights have already been set up in McLeodganj, with more intersections identified for signalization and road widening.”

However, the enforcement drive has also drawn criticism from citizens, who argue that the lack of adequate parking facilities has left them with no choice.

Retired administrative officer Lalit Kumar remarked, “When the administration permits commercial establishments in residential areas without providing parking infrastructure, roadside parking becomes inevitable. Penalizing people under such circumstances is unjust.”

Local businessman Sansar Chand echoed similar sentiments, stating, “The police should focus on vehicles that are abandoned or permanently parked for weeks with tarpaulins. Regular visitors and shopkeepers should not be unnecessarily penalized.”

Retired principal Maya Awasthi suggested a more balanced approach: “The main roads must certainly be cleared for smooth traffic, but in densely populated localities with no parking zones, the police should issue warnings instead of challans.”

The police have urged citizens to strictly follow traffic rules, cooperate with enforcement efforts, and use only designated parking areas for their vehicles to help maintain order and safety on the roads.