Chandigarh’s Auto Rickshaw Problem Persists Despite Policy Efforts

Sector 17 Recent Accident Video of Doctor Lakhwinder Singh in a speedy auto rickshaw moved everyone on Social Media. A planned city where ‘management of traffic’ is an example for the rest of the country, has not been able to curb this Auto Rickshaw menace for ages. Hence, Doctor Lakhwinder Singh succumbed to injuries 19 days after this accident, while the other injured person is still in hospital fighting with pain. The question is still standing tall, “Who is responsible’ as the culprit got bail in the hit-and-run case.
Road is for everyone, in the year 2019, this is what the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court said and ordered the Chandigarh Administration to frame a policy to curb Autorickshaw traffic in Chandigarh. Years passed, Policy was framed, and new norms for parking auto rickshaws, too enforced by the Municipal Corporation yet everyday chaos by Autorickshaw drivers did not minus even a bit of a second. The question remained unanswered…Why?
This is because, people who are responsible for making all policies, and rules adhered to by auto-rickshaw drivers are deeply in connivance with auto-rickshaw drivers by taking monthly fees. TDG spoke to four Auto-rickshaw drivers who admitted that they are a monthly 400 rupees area SHO where they regularly park their Auto-rickshaws.
Earlier. Secretary Transport Chandigarh Administration has directed DSP Traffic UT Chandigarh to affix stickers on the remaining autos which are registered in UT Chandigarh and Autos which are registered in Mohali and Panchkula but have counter signatures of permits by STA. The process regarding affixation of stickers has been decided to be completed by 28th February 2023.
During the discussion, some locations in the city were identified where the highest density of autos is found.
A letter be addressed to RTA Mohali and Panchkula for sending recommendations of autos (500 each) from respective cities to get their autos countersigned and after countersignatures of autos, stickers on them will also be affixed by traffic police. The process was to be completed by 31st March 2023. Intensive Joint Enforcement against the plying of illegal autos will be started w.e.f. 1.4.2023. Yet no respite has been seen in Chandigarh so far.