Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The city traffic police have failed to prepare fixed plan for rapidly increasing number of unregulated e-rickshaws on city streets. Regional transport officer claimed that approximately 10% of registered e-rickshaws increased this year.
The city is witnessing increasing congestion and chaos as the number of unregulated e-rickshaws continues to grow. The additional deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vikram Raghuwanshi told Free Press that a proposal had been sent to Bhopal district collector a few months ago, outlining the need for a fixed strategy to organise and regulate e-rickshaws, much like the successful model implemented in Indore.
However, no progress has been made since then. E-rickshaws have become a popular mode of transport in the city due to their affordability and convenience. However, their unorganised operation has led to problems like traffic congestion, road safety issues and violations of traffic norms. Many drivers lack proper permits, while haphazard parking and sudden stoppages frustrate commuters.
The lack of a proper plan has led to chaos on major roads, especially in busy areas like New Market, MP Nagar and the old city. The situation worsens during peak hours, with e-rickshaws clogging traffic flow, said a New Market shop owner. E-rickshaw driver Shahid told Free Press that he has been earning daily wages from it for past three years, and due to a lack of any proper plan for e-rickshaws, he had to face regular harassment by traffic police. In one year, he paid fine of Rs 2,000-Rs 3,000.
How many?
According to regional transport officer Jitendra Sharma, there are approximately 8,000 registered e-rickshaws in Bhopal. This year, 700 new e-rickshaws were registered. The Bhopal traffic police proposal reportedly suggested measures like coloured fixed routes for e-rickshaw operations, fixed e-rickshaw stands that can only cover 15-km radius from their stand, mandatory registration and dress codes for drivers.
