Students feel the heat as e-rickshaws go on strike in North Campus

Aspiring students and their parents faced inconvenience in North Campus as battery-operated rickshaws went on a strike in the capital. The admission seekers were left at the mercy of rickshaw pullers who charged as much as Rs 50 for a short ride.

Hundreds and thousands of e-ricks had gone off roads on Tuesday protesting against the illegal ‘impounding of their vehicle’ by traffic police.

‘The traffic police has confiscated many of our vehicles without any valid reason. Sometimes, they also issue us a challan of Rs 5,000. We are poor people and earn our livelihood through e-ricks’, said Ram Kumar whose rickshaw was confiscated by the police recently.

With no other mode of transport within the campus, the rickshaw pullers had a free run on Tuesday. For a ride which generally costs just Rs 10 by e-rick, the rickshaw pullers were reported to be asking Rs 50 for it. While the admission seekers complained that they are being ‘harassed’ with such high prices, the rickshaw pullers said that this is the only season in the year where they earn good money. ‘Cycle rickshaw used to be the most favoured mode of transport. But e-ricks have eaten into our earning’, said one of the rickshaw pullers.

‘This is clear harassment. There is no other mode of transport and these rickshaw wallahs are asking to much a price for such a short trip. We have no option but to pay owing to the scorching heat’, said Naina Arora who came to submit her application form.

It is interesting to mention that there is no alternate travel arrangements in campus which receives a footfall of thousands during the hectic admission process. 

The DTC buses which are supposed to be run frequently has no schedule and sometimes take hours to come.