Bengaluru police begin relocating 11,346 seized vehicles from congested stations

11,346 seized vehicles clogging Bengaluru police stations to be shifted

Bengaluru police have begun relocating thousands of seized vehicles from congested station premises to seven Revenue Department land parcels on the city outskirts, marking the first systematic attempt in years to resolve a space crisis that has turned police compounds into virtual scrapyards.

The relocation drive, launched at Jayanagar police station, targets 11,346 vehicles identified across the city and is scheduled for completion over the next one month. Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who inaugurated the operation, said the exercise was part of a wider effort to address long-standing perennial issues in the city, starting with debris and abandoned vehicle clearance.

Citizen complaints force action

The initiative follows sustained public pressure, with many citizens complaining that police stations in the city are inundated with seized vehicles and demanding action. Even State legislators and MPs had demanded a solution to the problem, Mr. Gowda said. While footpath clearance is ongoing, the accumulation of vehicles has not only created a shortage of space at police stations but has also resulted in vehicles spilling onto roads and footpaths, obstructing pedestrian movement and causing inconvenience to the public.

The Hindu had earlier reported on such seized vehicles posing a fire threat, but a dearth of space within the city to shift the vehicles had led to an impasse.

A cycle of failed solutions

The problem was briefly addressed between 2023 and 2025, when the city police shifted all seized vehicles to Jakkarayanakere in the central part of the city, besides a small facility in Madanayakanahalli on the outskirts. But frequent fires, snake-related issues, and improper management of space at Jakkarayanakere drew backlash from neighbourhood residents. Even the Madanayakanahalli facility was full.

In 2025, the city police again shifted the seized vehicles from Jakkarayanakere and dumped them at police stations. A senior police officer explained to The Hindu that they had to keep the vehicles on the premises, as cases linked to them were ongoing, and hence they could neither be returned nor disposed of.

The issue remained unaddressed but came under fire when the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) launched its footpath clearance drive.

Courts refuse fast-tracking

Mr. Gowda said the authorities had urged the police to formally seek permission from courts to fast-track such cases so that the vehicles could be cleared. "We have been holding preparatory meetings for the past two months. As these vehicles are involved in court cases, we made a special request to get them cleared. However, the courts have said that the cases cannot be fast-tracked," he said.

Following this, Mr. Gowda said they sought the help of the Revenue Department and secured land parcels at seven locations spanning 26 acres for the purpose. "Now, the police have fenced those lands and are shifting the seized vehicles," Mr. Gowda said.

Decades-old problem

Mr. Gowda said the accumulation of seized vehicles was not a recent problem and had been affecting police stations for 15 to 20 years. The coordinated effort by the GBA and Bengaluru Police is expected to free up space around police stations and reduce obstructions on roads and pedestrian pathways across the city.

The Minister said the State government was also taking measures to address other long-standing civic problems. He reiterated that notices had been affixed to 2,024 vehicles, but their owners had not come forward to take them back. Such vehicles were being towed away, he said.

Source: The Hindu