Officials held a meeting on Thursday and have written to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to find out how many of the abandoned vehicles gathering dust at this parking lot are stolen.

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.