A senior official said the transport department was given a list of
264 abandoned vehicles to ascertain their owners. “The department has
responded with a list of 193 vehicles with names of their owners. We are
now sending notices to the respective owners with a 15-day deadline to
respond,” the official said.

After the HT report appeared on Monday, ADC (RP Cell) Ravideep Singh
Chahar wrote to the NCRB to find out whether any of these ‘abandoned’
vehicles were involved in criminal cases or have been reported stolen.

The letter states: “As per information given by the parking
contractor and other concerned authority, a list of vehicles reportedly
lying unclaimed in the parking site for so many years was sent to the
Commissioner Transport Department of Delhi for giving the details of
registration of such vehicle…. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation
wants to dispose of these unclaimed vehicles after issuance of notice to
owners of these vehicles and with the consent of the Police
Authorities.”

North civic body spokesperson Yogendra Singh Mann said various
departments of the corporation have been instructed to do their bit for
the parking lot’s facelift.

“Around Rs. 48 lakh has been earmarked for renovation, Rs. 60 lakh for firefighting facilities such as sprinklers and provision for hydrants and Rs. 16
lakh for lighting of the Asaf Ali Road parking have been proposed by
the respective departments and would cleared in the standing committee
meeting,” Mann said, adding that the makeover should be complete in 8-9
months.