Dial 100 if you face parking extortion, says Kolkata Traffic Police

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Traffic Police has asked all motorists facing parking extortion to dial 100 or call the traffic control room directly to ensure immediate evidence collection by cops.
Cops said while parking extortion was a reality, official complaints are hard to come by. "To nab the individual violator, we need spot evidence. Given that we cannot always be present at all parking lots, all motorists can lodge complaints through dial 100.We do receive complaints of taxi refusals and traffic challans on 100. There is no reason why we cannot handle parking extortion cases through 100," said an officer at Lalbazar.
Cops say the evidence gets wasted if a complainant lodges the plaint after "returning home".
"Manpower constraints do not allow us to be present at all parking lots. Hence, support of motorist is required to weed out this problem. We are in talks with KMC to develop a faster response mechanism," said the officer.
TOI had highlighted how some parking attendants in central Kolkata were extorting money from motorists using the festive season as an excuse. South traffic guard, meanwhile, held a meeting on Thursday with all stakeholders to remind them about the laws.
"We plan to post officers at strategic points so that motorists can lodge complaints," said a Lalbazar officer.