LUCKNOW, Jan. 20 -- Blame it on poor enforcement, but the city's illegal parking woes continue to choke its roads.

Home to nearly 40 lakh people who, on an average, drive two lakh vehicles on its roads everyday (as per official figures), Lucknow city has but only eight cranes to tow four-wheelers that violate parking rules, officials, who requested anonymity, said. Three of them remain reserved for VIP duties. Similarly, cranes for towing bikes are also less.

The officials, who look after the crane services, said the current fleet could lift only around 100 vehicles, which included both bikes and cars, a day. Enforcement drives were underway in areas such as Gomti Nagar, Hazratganj, Bhootnath, Aminabad and a few other traffic-prone loca...