Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Bengaluru police stations are set to get some much needed breathing space, with 11,346 seized vehicles including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers to be moved out and shifted to seven designated locations spread across 26 acres.
The relocation drive was launched from the Jayanagar police station limits by Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Wednesday, in coordination with the Police and Revenue Departments.
Bengaluru is relocating 11,346 seized vehicles from police stations to seven designated sites across 26 acres, launched by Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Wednesday to free up space occupied for years pending case resolutions.
Some of the vehicles have been lying around police stations for five, 10 and even 15 years in connection with various cases. Over the years, many have been damaged by exposure to the weather, while some have reportedly deteriorated to the point where they are barely worth more than scrap.
Speaking to reporters, Gowda said the government had been looking at long pending problems in Bengaluru and trying to find solutions to issues that affect people in their everyday lives.
He said hundreds of seized vehicles were lying around several police stations and were creating problems for both the department and the public. According to Gowda, people had complained that the vehicles were obstructing movement around police stations, while some had even caught fire.
The minister also pointed to the garbage that accumulates around such vehicles, saying it could indirectly encourage illegal activities. He said several MLAs and MPs had also raised the issue and sought a permanent solution.
“In coordination with the police and revenue department, we have now launched an operation to clear vehicles that have been seized and have been lying around police stations for decades,” Gowda said.
He said preparatory meetings had been held over the past two months to work out a solution. Since many of the vehicles are linked to court cases, there had been suggestions to seek special permission for clearing them. However, Gowda said the courts had made it clear that the cases could not be fast tracked.
The Police Department later sought alternative land where the vehicles could be kept until the cases are resolved.
The Revenue Department has now identified 26 acres across seven locations for this purpose. Gowda said the sites were being fenced and their custody was being handed over to the police department. The shifting of vehicles is expected to begin immediately.
The 11,346 vehicles include those seized in traffic, accident and criminal cases. Since many are connected to ongoing court proceedings, they cannot simply be disposed of and have to remain in custody until the related cases are settled.
“This is not a problem that has arisen today. It has been a problem for the Police Department for the last 15 to 20 years. We will shift as many of these vehicles as possible within the next one month,” Gowda said.
Another drive targets abandoned vehicles
The minister also said a separate drive was already underway to clear abandoned vehicles from Bengaluru’s public roads and footpaths.
So far, notices have been pasted on 2,024 abandoned vehicles. Owners who fail to come forward are being dealt with through towing and removal.
Gowda also flagged another category of vehicles that has been taking up public space: government vehicles that have become unusable.
“I have taken note of them, and we will speak to all the concerned departments and undertake a drive to clear those vehicles as well,” he said.
11,346 seized vehicles – near Police Stations for years now.
In coordination with the Police and Revenue Departments, these vehicles will now be shifted to 7 designated locations across 26 acres, easing congestion around police stations and reclaiming public space.… pic.twitter.com/d1pf47ZP6N
— Krishna Byre Gowda (@krishnabgowda) September 16, 2026
What the move means for commuters
For people living near police stations or using the roads around them, the removal of seized vehicles could free up some much needed space.
“There is already very little space around busy police stations. If these vehicles are moved out, it should make it easier for residents and people visiting the station to get in and out,” Rohit Kumar, a resident of Jayanagar, told OneIndia.
For daily commuters, the impact could depend on how much space is actually cleared and whether it improves movement around the station.
“During busy hours, every bit of space matters. If vehicles that have been sitting there for years are removed, the area could become less cluttered and easier to pass through,” said Megha S, a daily commuter near Pulakeshi Nagar.
However, not everyone is convinced that moving the vehicles will have a significant impact on traffic.
“Moving these vehicles may clear some space around the police stations, but I don’t think commuters in Koramangala will notice much difference. The traffic and parking problems here are much bigger,” said Nisha Jayaprakash, a resident of Koramangala.
Police station premises and their surroundings often have limited space. When seized vehicles remain parked for years, they can add to the clutter and make already busy areas harder to navigate.
Moving the vehicles to designated sites will free up space at police stations and could also make access easier for residents, complainants and commuters visiting these areas.
However, the relocation does not mean the vehicles will immediately disappear from the system. Most will continue to remain in police custody until the cases connected to them are resolved or the law permits further action.
The immediate task for the authorities is therefore to complete the shifting of the 11,346 vehicles and ensure that they remain properly recorded and secured at the new locations.
