Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 19: In a curious stand-off that has gripped the residents of Prestige Sunrise Park in Electronic City, one man’s determination to keep his shoe rack outside his apartment door has turned into a matter of principle – and penalty.
Over the past eight months, the resident has shelled out a whopping Rs 24,000 in fines for refusing to remove a simple shoe rack placed in the common corridor. What began as a part of a routine residents’ association crackdown on corridor clutter has now evolved into a battle of wills.
Prestige Sunrise Park, a sprawling housing complex with 1,046 flats, initiated a drive to clear corridors of personal items – including shoe racks, flower pots, and storage cabinets – in line with fire safety norms and community guidelines. Officials found that nearly half of the residents had been using the corridors for storage.
Following the survey, the association issued notices and gave a two-month deadline to remove the encroachments. Most complied after a few rounds of persuasion. “There was resistance initially, but within four weeks, all but two flats cleared the space,” said a committee member.
One eventually relented. But the other – a determined resident – dug in his heels.
Rather than remove his shoe rack, the resident paid an advance fine of Rs 15,000, requesting that it be treated as a prepaid penalty for continuing to keep his rack in place. When the association increased the fine to Rs 200 per day, he continued to pay – without protest.
As of now, he has paid Rs 24,000, and the shoe rack continues to stand, undisturbed, outside his flat. According to a Times of India report, the association is now exploring whether stricter action can be taken or if further escalation is possible.
The unusual protest has left the apartment community divided. While some admire the man’s commitment and willingness to put his money where his shoes are, others see it as an unnecessary defiance of community rules.
“This is not about a shoe rack; it’s about respecting shared spaces,” said a resident. “Everyone agreed to the rule. Why should one person be allowed to defy it with money?”
Meanwhile, others have taken a more humorous approach. “He might as well gold-plate the rack now. At this rate, he’s paying rent for it,” joked another.
Despite rising costs and pressure from the association, the resident remains unfazed. His shoe rack stands as a silent symbol of resistance in the corridor – a humble structure at the centre of a high-rise dispute.
As Prestige Sunrise Park grapples with one of Bengaluru’s most expensive shoe rack sagas, the community watches on: will the man finally step back, or will the fines just keep racking up? Only time—and maybe Rs 200 a day—will tell.