Bengaluru Resident Fined ₹15,000 for Shoe Rack in Corridor

Bengaluru's Prestige Sunrise Park Enforces Common Area Rules

In a notable incident in Bengaluru's Electronic City, a resident of Prestige Sunrise Park has been penalized over ₹15,000 for not moving a shoe rack that was placed outside their apartment, despite multiple reminders and escalating fines.

As reported by a local media outlet, the residential community at the Norwood block initiated a campaign aimed at removing personal belongings, such as shoe racks, potted plants, and storage boxes, from shared spaces. This initiative was designed to improve safety in hallways and comply with fire safety regulations, which mandate that exit routes in high-rise buildings remain unobstructed.

Following a two-month grace period and extensive communication efforts, nearly all of the 1,046 apartment owners adhered to the new rules without issue. Notices were distributed, and the Residents' Association held meetings to ensure that residents understood the compliance requirements.

Initially, only two households resisted the rule. One complied and removed their items, while the other did not.

According to Arun Prasad, president of the Residents' Association, the non-compliant resident continued to keep the shoe rack in the corridor and paid an upfront fine of ₹15,000, indicating that the association could apply it towards future daily fines.

Currently, the association imposes a daily fine of ₹100 for violations of its regulations, with plans to increase this to ₹200 for this particular case.

"Common areas should not be used for personal storage," Prasad stated. "While we commend the majority of residents for following the rules, such ongoing violations create significant safety risks, especially during a fire or emergency evacuation."

The association noted that when the initiative began, about half of the residents had personal items outside their apartments. Over time, a consensus was reached to maintain clear pathways, leading to a significant improvement in compliance.

Conversely, the resident who continues to keep the shoe rack outside persists in paying the fines and has requested no further disturbances regarding the issue.