Jamshedpur: The Jamshedpur district traffic police on Wednesday initiated a strict crackdown on errant auto-rickshaws, responding to a surge in complaints from motorists about drivers disrupting the smooth flow of traffic. The drive involves random inspections aimed at penalizing operators who park illegally on roadsides or stop on service roads to pick up and drop off passengers.
Inspections and Document Verification
Traffic police, accompanied by transport officials, conducted thorough checks, verifying the driving licenses of operators and vehicle documents such as the pollution under control (PUC) certificate, registration certificate, fitness certificate, permit license, and route chart. Deputy superintendent of police (Traffic) Sriniraj Kumar stated, "Auto-rickshaw drivers must wear their uniforms and operate only on their permitted routes. Operators who have applied for a permit will receive a one-week exemption from fines, provided they produce their permit application to the inspecting officers."
Meeting with Auto-Rickshaw Union
To ensure compliance, the DSP held a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of the Sikshit Berozgar Tempo Chalak Sangh (SBTCS) and instructed them to make sure all drivers carry the necessary paperwork. He warned that any auto-rickshaw found parked in a no-parking zone will be seized immediately. Welcoming the initiative, SBTCS president Shyam Kinkar Jha said that the drive will help discipline operators who repeatedly flout traffic regulations and the Motor Vehicles Act.
Background and Statistics
East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Rajiv Ranjan on Monday had directed the police to tackle irregular auto operations, curb illegal parking, and streamline the city's overall traffic system. Over 20,000 auto-rickshaws ply on the city streets every day. Out of these, 30% are CNG-powered, and merely 1% are e-autos.
About the Author: B Sridhar, based in Jamshedpur, covers the entire Kolhan region comprising three districts: East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan, reporting on topics such as left-wing extremism, city life, urban policies, and other wide-ranging issues.
