State’s auto-rickshaw policy to be introduced on October 3

The existing problems due to plying of auto-rickshaws in the city and its adjoining areas would be solved with the introduction of the auto-rickshaw policy on October 3, said the state Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Adhikari was speaking at a programme in which several projects of the Transport department were launched on Wednesday.

He said that it would not be right to blame all auto-rickshaw drivers for two or three incidents.

Livelihood of thousands of people depends on plying of auto-rickshaws. Thus, it would not be right to take any step that would affect their livelihoods.

“The auto-rickshaw policy will be introduced on October 3, which is just a few days ahead of the Puja. The policy has been prepared in such a way that it would solve the existing problems,” he said.

He further said that e-rickshaws have been introduced in Behrampore on Tuesday.

Chief Minister launched the e-rickshaws and it would be plying across the state.

It may be mentioned that the Calcutta High Court had directed the state government to take steps against the plying of totos as registration of the vehicles were not possible as per the Motor Vehicles Act.

Now with the introduction of e-rickshaws, toto owners can replace their vehicles with e-rickshaws.

It is learnt that e-rickshaw sellers are reducing a part of the total cost of an e-rickshaw if a person is ready to exchange give them with their totos.

The Transport minister also announced that the integration of three corporations including Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), The Calcutta Tramways Company and West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) into to West Bengal Transport Corporation has come into effect on Wednesday.

At the same time major parts of Howrah, Barrackpore and Bidhannagar Commissionerate has been brought under the jurisdiction of Kolkata RTA.

Earlier the jurisdiction of the Kolkata RTA was restricted to the area of Kolkata Police.

The step has been taken to solve several existing problems mainly the rationalisation of routes for different modes of public transport.