Auto rickshaw service, considered to be the lifeline of public transport system here, stares at an uncertain future as the state government plans to curtail their movement on roads as Bhubaneswar is going to be a Smart City.
According sources, auto associations in Bhubaneswar have decided to stage a massive demonstration from Sishu Bhawan Square to Vani Vihar on 26th of February to raise their displeasure against the proposed restrictions on the their movement in the city routes.
“It is evident from an official letter of the transport department, which sought recommendation from Khurda collector Niranjan Sahoo on a proposal to cap the number of auto-rickshaws and allow the vehicles to ply only on some dedicated routes. The proposal was mooted by city traffic management committee, headed by home secretary and comprising officers of the commissionerate police, Bhubaneswar Development Authority, works and transport departments.
According to the letter sent by transport commissioner D S Kuttey to Sahoo on January 9 to regulate auto-rickshaws in Bhubaneswar.
“We have not yet taken any final decision. We will consult the stakeholders, including the auto-rickshaw associations. The objective of regulating auto-rickshaws is to decongest traffic,” Kutey said.
Kutey said Delhi has already regulated auto-rickshaws.
“We also have planned to restrict movement of auto-rickshaws on all routes. We may not go for further registration of auto-rickshaws,” Kutey said.
At present the city has around 27,000 auto-rickshaws registered with the two regional transport offices here, though around 10,000 other auto-rickshaws from outskirts come to the city daily to do business.
Padman Kumar Samal, general secretary of Bhubaneswar Auto-rickshaw Mahasangh said he has requested different authorities to protect the livelihood of poor drivers. It is a conspiracy by the government to ban auto-rickshaws by promoting buses and cabs that create more traffic congestions.
“Auto-rickhshaws are the best 24×7 public transport facility for any kind of passengers. We had protested when government launched city bus service here in 2010,” Samal said.
Auto drivers said the government should have designed the city and roads in such a manner that would not have caused traffic congestions.
“I wonder how regulation of auto-rickshaws will decongest traffic. The government has no right to ban auto-rickhshaws. Government should remove encroachments and widen roads. Why is the government not shifting major offices to outskirts to decongest the city,” asked Mahendra Pradhan, a driver, who earns Rs 300 a day by working over 10 hours.
“If the government wants to curb auto-rickshaws, why did it launch pink auto service for women and prepaid auto service at railway station and other places here,” asked Kailas Mangaraj, another driver.
Courtesy: Times of India