Towing set to return in Bengaluru; this time with new approach

The Hindu

07-08-2025

In a bid to decongest roads and ease traffic flow, the towing of erroneously parked vehicles is set to resume in Bengaluru after a three-year pause. This time, it will return with a new set of rules and the involvement of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), effectively excluding private players from the process.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh told The Hindu that BBMP is being involved this time to address issues that existed earlier.
In 2022, during the BJP government's tenure, the then Home Minister Araga Jnanendra issued an order halting towing operations after he received multiple complaints of harassment against the private towing agencies. Several videos had emerged online showing touts harassing motorists for money, leaving the Police Department red faced.
Mr. Singh emphasised that private players have been completely excluded this time, and new towing methods are being devised. He said the police have requested BBMP to procure 10 towing vehicles, along with drivers. 'We will get one vehicle each for all 10 sub-divisions under which traffic police stations in the city operate,' Mr. Singh told The Hindu.
Pilot on high density corridors
According to Mr. Singh, to start with, they have identified 96 high-density corridors that frequently experience traffic snarls due to irregular parking, where they will enforce towing. 'Based on the outcomes of the pilot, we will plan on extending the exercise,' he said.
A source in the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) added that the department is likely to conduct a calibrated study on congestion patterns, vehicle density, and peak congestion hours to evaluate the effectiveness of enforcement. The findings will help determine whether towing operations should be expanded citywide.
A senior BBMP official confirmed to The Hindu that BBMP Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao has instructed officials to begin arrangements to float tenders for procuring towing vehicles along with drivers for the BTP.
According to a senior BTP officer, discussions are underway about involving BBMP in the fine collection process as well, though under the supervision of the BTP, in order to streamline operations. 'Along with vehicles, if BBMP can provide manpower for lifting and loading, the process will unfold smoothly and keep private players entirely out of the picture,' the officer said.
However, for BBMP's formal involvement, an amendment needs to be made to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024. The officer noted that such changes are currently under discussion, and various options are being explored to make this collaboration possible.
'The entire process of procurement and implementation of towing will take at least two months, and BBMP is still in a transition phase. So it may take some additional time,' he said.
A senior officer in the BTP told The Hindu that effective towing enforcement could resolve many hyper-local traffic issues that contribute to congestion at major junctions, ultimately reducing traffic on main roads.
In an early attempt to address the issue, the northeast traffic police rented a private towing vehicle for five days in June and began operations. However, the initiative was halted due to a lack of funds, as the private towing vehicle cost ₹5,000 per day.