They are protesting against the transport department and the district administrative officials over issuance of more permits, an end to the alleged arbitrary crackdown on vehicles, and the imposition of hefty fines.
The administration has been conducting drives against the vehicles to improve city traffic, curb illegal stoppages and parking, and streamline vehicular movements, after being pulled up by the high court.
Chief patron of the e-rickshaw Chalak Sangh, Uttam Yadav, said, “We will be off city roads from tomorrow till the administration accepts our demands. The unions of the three units of public transportation services have joined hands.”
The administration has issued permits to around 950 e-rickshaws while at least 7,000 e-rickshaws ply daily. Similarly, around 5000 permits have been issued to both the CNG and the diesel autos, but their numbers are more than the double.
Yadav accused the administration of double standards. “We are ready to ply on prescribed routes after issuance of permits but why doesn’t the administration stop new registration?” he said, adding that the traffic department and municipal corporation enforcement agencies tend to harass and extort drivers in the name of fines.”
Referring to the flaws in the route permit system, e-rickshaw driver Khalid Khan said, “There were around a dozen routes. Now, the RMC has extended it to 113 routes. Each e-rickshaw is allowed to ply on maximum of one or two km. So, if anyone wants to go to Karamtoli from Kantatoli, they have to change two-three e-rickshaws.”
While RMC administrator Sandeep Singh did not respond to calls, another official said, “Administration has been offering permits to regulate traffic. Those who don’t have permits can be allowed to ply. We are working on increasing routes.”
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