NOIDA: Strolling through a 10-acre land in Sector 62, one encounters hundreds of vehicles unevenly parked - their body parts wobbly, sheen rusty and tyres flattened. A similar scene plays out at the parking lots in the 15-odd police stations TOI visited in the GB Nagar area.
In a city where the cost of land ticks upward by the minute, many parks, medians and police station parking lots have turned into scrap junkyards, where vehicles - old and new - remain caught in decades-long legal battles.
At Knowledge Park police station, a constable cautions this reporter: "Careful, don't touch that one," he said. "It's been here for years." Among the hundreds of cars stacked here, only around a few are used - belonging to the personnel working at the station.
Some were involved in hit-and-runs, others seized for lack of proper documentation, while a few were simply abandoned on busy roads. While owners in minor cases can reclaim their vehicles after completing formalities, many remain unclaimed due to pending court cases, unpaid fines, or missing documentation.
The situation worsens in serious crimes such as accidents, kidnapping, or murder. "Once a vehicle is seized, it becomes case property," said Aditya Bhati, an advocate. "Police cannot dispose of it without court permission, and trials often take years. However, the owner has the right to free his or her vehicle on the court's order after moving an application for it."
There is no deadline by which police must seek court permission to auction as timelines depend on the type of property and state-specific laws.
Over time, delays in auction and disposal have led to an accumulation, transforming police stations into congested yards struggling for space. For lack of space, little effort can be made towards safeguarding them: an auto is perched precariously atop a white taxi; two cars are squeezed between trees; a tempo is balanced over two four-wheelers.
At some stations, personnel struggle to park their own vehicles. "Sometimes we have to shift multiple vehicles just to make space for our two-wheelers," said one of head moharir (administrative officer in charge of the police station).
"The rules exist, but the process takes time," another officer noted. "By the time we get clearance, most vehicles are already scrap." Courts, too, have flagged the issue, observing that public spaces and police premises cannot be used indefinitely for storing seized vehicles, the second officer said.
From evidence to scrapA senior official told TOI that dedicated junkyards to store seized vehicles existed in Sector 62 but they can no longer accommodate the increasing volumes of vehicles.
The conditions do not support long-term parking. Most vehicles are seized in working conditions, but left in open areas without protective cover. Continuous exposure to sun and rain leads to rusting, damaged interiors and mechanical failure. Tyres deflate, engines seize and parts often go missing over time.
A police official recalled a high-end car seized in a financial fraud case. "It was in good condition when it came. Now, it's barely worth anything," the officer said.
Apart from financial loss, authorities also point to environmental and safety concerns. Stagnant water inside vehicles can lead to mosquito breeding, while accumulated scrap increases the risk of fire and rodent infestation.
Auctioning seized vehiclesOfficials said that a structured process is followed after vehicle seizure.
First, the vehicle is recorded as case property, with details such as engine and chassis numbers documented. Nearly every police station has dedicated personnel to keep track of case property, referred to as the malkhana in-charge.
These personnel verify ownership through registration databases, and efforts are made to contact the registered owner.
A formal notice is then issued, asking the owner to claim the vehicle within a specified time after completing legal formalities. If the vehicle is linked to a criminal case, police must seek permission from the court to dispose of it.
Once clearance is obtained, authorities issue public notices about unclaimed vehicles. A departmental committee reviews each case to decide whether the vehicle should be returned, auctioned or scrapped. In 2025 alone, GB Nagar auctioned or disposed of 4,775 seized two- and four-wheelers, according to official data accessed by TOI.
The vehicle is then evaluated to determine its reserve price. Most auctions are now conducted online through e-auction platforms, where registered bidders participate. After the sale, the proceeds are deposited with the govt and ownership is transferred or the vehicle is dismantled.
Police officials said the delay in auctioning seized vehicles is due to a combination of legal and administrative factors.
Many vehicles are linked to court cases. As case property, they cannot be disposed of until the court permits it. Even when a vehicle is no longer required as evidence, formal clearance is necessary.
Tracking down vehicle owners is another challenge. In several cases, records are outdated, ownership has not been transferred properly, or vehicles carry fake number plates, making identification difficult.
The process also requires issuing notices to owners and, in some cases, publishing public advertisements, giving them time to claim their vehicles. Only after this period can further steps be taken.
Officials also point to earlier delays caused by centralised auction systems and procedural approvals.
Though some reforms have been introduced, bottlenecks remain. Additionally, poor condition of vehicles and their association with criminal cases often result in low buyer interest during auctions.
Police departments have started taking steps to address the issue, including decentralising the auction process and conducting periodic drives to identify vehicles that can be disposed of.
"In the past few months, we have tried to speed up auctions," an officer said. "But clearing the old backlog is a gradual process." In some instances, courts and local authorities have also directed large-scale clearance following complaints about congestion and safety risks.
Loss to exchequerExperts said delays in disposal lead to significant financial losses, as vehicles depreciate rapidly when left unused. "A vehicle worth several lakhs can lose most of its value within a few years if kept in the open," advocate Bhati said, adding that timely auctions could generate substantial revenue.
The impact is also visible on policing. Officers said overcrowded premises make it difficult to move official vehicles and manage daily operations efficiently.
There are also concerns about public perception. Legal experts said the condition of police stations reflects on governance. At the same time, planners warn that cluttered compounds can pose safety risks, including fire hazards and blocked access routes.
"Firstly, all zones should have separate parking lots to keep the vehicles. Faster court clearances, dedicated storage facilities outside police stations, regular auctions and better tracking systems could help address the problem," Bhati added.
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