E-rickshaws a mece in Guwahati!

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 25: ‘Rules are meant to be broken’ has many takers, including those at the helm of affairs in executing various rules and Acts. Example? The rampant plying on e-rickshaws in Guwahati makes a perfect case study.

E-rickshaws came to the scene after the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. The Supreme Court of India has barred operation of e-rickshaws in urban/metro areas, limiting their areas of operation into sub-urban and city outskirts. The apex court has, however, allowed their registration by district administrations in accordance with powers vested on them by the State governments.

What is seen in Guwahati is quite different. E-rickshaws are allowed to be operated on Guwahati routes that have other modes of vehicles like trekkers (diesel taxies), city buses, rickshaws etc. One such route is Rajdhani Masjid-Hatigaon road in the city and some routes in the Beltola area.

E-rickshaws often create traffic congestions in the already busy roads teeming with vehicles of all hues in the city. Their slow movement creates problems for other vehicles that have to maintain a normal speed. The Ganeshguri-yanpur Road in the city is often seen congested. As if to cap it all, e-rickshaws are kept parked here and there on the road making the situation even worse.

People engaged in pulling e-rickshaws are also reportedly not friendly with commuters, especially with women commuters, at night. Clashes between drivers of trekkers and e-rickshaws also lead to problems for commuters.

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