The Nashik traffic police have booked at least 200 autorickshaw drivers in a targeted crackdown at the Nashik Road bus stand, initiated last week following repeated complaints of congestion caused by illegal parking and halting.
Enforcement Actions and Violations
Assistant police inspector Yatin Patil stated that the erring autorickshaw drivers have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act. "Over the past week, we have taken action against autorickshaw drivers for illegal halting and parking, carrying passengers in the front seat, not wearing uniforms, and other violations," Patil said.
Designated Stand Misuse
The officer highlighted that despite the presence of a designated autorickshaw stand, several drivers continued to halt directly in front of the bus stand to pick up and drop passengers, significantly contributing to traffic congestion. Regular commuters reported that the bus stand and adjoining road become chaotic during peak hours, with reckless driving by autorickshaw operators worsening the situation.
Recent Incident and Protest
The drive comes in the wake of a serious incident last month, when a city bus driver was allegedly assaulted by a group of autorickshaw drivers at the same location after the bus driver asked an autorickshaw driver to move his vehicle to allow a bus to pass. Following the incident, bus drivers staged a protest, temporarily disrupting city bus services. Based on the complaint filed by the bus driver, the Nashik Road police registered a case against eight autorickshaw drivers under charges of unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, and criminal intimidation under the BNS.
Ongoing Traffic Challenges
The Nashik Road bus stand witnesses heavy commuter traffic, with passengers frequently moving between the railway station and the bus terminal. However, traffic flow is often disrupted as some autorickshaw drivers block roads, encroach on spaces meant for buses, and obstruct their movement in and out of the terminal. Assistant police inspector Patil said sustained enforcement over time was expected to bring about a lasting improvement in traffic conditions at the bus stand.
