LUCKNOW: Leaving his car in a no-parking zone near a mall in Gomtinagar cost Rajesh Kumar a challan of Rs 1,100 as cops carried out a traffic drive in the vicinity on Sunday. About 40 challans were issued and many cars towed away during the six-hour drive that began around 12 noon. By the end of the drive, traffic police had collected Rs 44,000 in fine.However, the drive was a hogwash as commuters continued to park their vehicles haphazardly once the drive got over.In a reality check, TOI found that people continued to park their vehicles despite the crackdown.Not only cars and twowheelers, even auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws ferrying passengers I were parked haphazardly outside the mall.Sushil Dixit, a private worker, said those who have parked their vehicles in the parking are even finding it difficult to get their vehicles out from the parking stand owing to these irregularly parked vehicles.Prakhar Tiwari, a student, said that auto-rickshaws stop their vehicles anywhere on the road for passengers. “This leads to jam and can also cause serious accidents,” he added.Meanwhile, people who were issued challans had their excuses. “The mall parking was full and several four-wheelers were parked haphazardly on the road. I had only parked my car for two minutes to buy something from a nearby shop, and in the meantime, they towed away my vehicle,” said Rajesh Kumar, a property dealer.Traffic ASP RS Nim said challans were only slapped on people who had either haphazardly parked their vehicles or whose vehicles were found in no-parking zones. “Illegally parked vehicles encroach on roads and lead to frequent traffic snarls. Such drives are a routine,” he added.

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