For, in the first nine months of this year, 66,597 vehicle drivers in the city were penalised and Rs 31.82 lakhs were collected from them as fine, which was Rs four lakhs more than that collected during the corresponding period last year. And of the total amount, Rs 54,000 was collected in terms of fine for wrong parking alone.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Siddharth Khatri, the phenomenon was a result of a social problem. ``We keep on imposing fine and reckless drivers continue to break them. It would go on and on. But the solution really lies in creating an awareness about how important it is to drive safely,'' he pointed out.

However, the increased violation of parking norms in the city is seen by many as a fallout of inadequate slots. Though during the last one year, the number of vehicles in the city increased by a lakh, there has been no corresponding increase in parking areas. ``So what do the vehicle-owners do,'' questioned Dushant Vyas, a businessman.

And the parking chaos at the railway station says it all. The slot here has a capacity to accommodate only 300 vehicles and once it is full there is no place to park. ``And if one parks his vehicle outside the slot, it is towed away. This is not justified,'' claims another vehicle-owner Jaisukh Patel.

Even Khatri admits the problem but claims despite provision for a parking slot, habitual offenders at times park their vehicle in the no-parking zone.

Policemen, on the other hand, are of the opinion that an important reason for increase in the fine collection was because it was too minimal. ``Sometime back, the State government empowered a head constable to impose fine which was a proper decision. But there has been no increase in the fine structure. A nominal fine of Rs 50 or 100 would never deter the drivers from violating norms,'' a police officer claimed.

Also, there is no effective check on habitual offenders. ``In cities like Delhi and Chandigarh, the licence of a offending vehicle-owner is punched. But if the offender continues to violate the norms his licence could also be cancelled,'' opined an officer. But as such strict actions aren't taken in Vadodara, habitual offenders continue to flout the norms, he explained.