Illegally parked vehicles are holding the surrounding roads of Thiruvananthapuram hostage

Illegal overnight parking and disorderly parking of vehicles in residential areas continue to obstruct traffic and inconvenience residents across the city | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Illegally parked vehicles disrupt the flow of traffic on major roads and surrounding streets across the capital. Social media platforms and neighborhood WhatsApp groups are abuzz with complaints, with many residents pointing out that illegal and disorderly parking in residential areas violates citizens’ rights and poses a serious risk to public safety.

Improper parking, along with construction materials dumped on roads, worsens traffic and endangers pedestrian safety by forcing pedestrians onto busy roads, putting them in conflict with fast-moving vehicles. Sr. Sebin Fernandez, principal of Holy Angels Convent Higher Secondary School, Vanchiyoor, said disorderly parking creates unsafe conditions for students of the school.

Dr. Unnikrishnan, an orthopedic surgeon at Government Medical College Hospital, says indiscriminate night parking on both sides of the road, including private cars and pick-shaws, prevents vehicles from passing through the narrow road in his neighborhood, often preventing him from reporting to work on time.

Another resident said school vans are circling her neighborhood due to careless parking, forcing her and others like her to drop their kids off at school. She added that repeated complaints to the local police and also to the councilor of the city district have not brought any result.

In many neighborhoods, private vehicle owners have turned roads into permanent parking lots that block motorists and pedestrians, including the elderly and the disabled.

Arun Chandran, Principal Scientist, Traffic Engineering and Safety Division, KSCSTE, NATPAC, said that parking on narrow roads directly reduces their carrying capacity. “Increased fuel consumption, reduced road efficiency and longer commute times result from parking violations,” he said. Mr Chandran said parked vehicles obstruct visibility and reduce the effective width of footpaths, forcing pedestrians into traffic.

Abandoning a vehicle on the road or leaving it in a dangerous and obstructing position which obstructs the flow of traffic is an offense under the Motor Vehicles Act and the police are empowered to tow the vehicle and fine the registered owner up to ₹15,000.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic South) Suresh Kumar said obstruction parking remains one of the major traffic offenses in the city. Although Thiruvananthapuram has 27 designated payment and parking facilities, many motorists continue to leave their vehicles along the roads.

Malavika Devi JR is an intern at The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram

Published – 16 Jun 2026 16:52 IST