NOIDA: In the absence of regular checks to prevent e-rickshaw and auto drivers from carrying more passengers than allowed at a time, the city remains prone to accidents due to overloading of passengers, including school children.
The government allows four passengers in e-rickshaws and three in autos. But often the number of passengers including the driver in a vehicle goes up to eight. Sometimes, a passenger sits in front with the driver, which ensures that more passengers are packed and quick money is made.
Residents said fares rise significantly if they try to travel alone or in small groups. The fee for a shared e-rickshaw in the morning is a minimum of Rs 10, but it costs Rs 40-50 for a passenger traveling alone, and it keeps on increasing with the distance. It also increases as the evening progresses. If a passenger wants to travel alone then the auto charges can range from Rs 30-40 to around Rs 200.
With schools reopening after almost two years of online classes due to the pandemic, many parents are now opting for e-rickshaws and autos to send their children to school as many school-van drivers are already working in other businesses. have gone in. According to parents, the remaining van drivers have hiked the fares citing financial losses during Covid-19, while e-rickshaws and auto drivers charge much less.
Seema Kumari, a resident of Sector 17, Noida, claimed that her family saves Rs 1,800 every month after moving from van to auto. “I have a nine-year-old daughter, and we send her to school in an auto. Three more children travel with him. I am always scared to see my daughter,” said Kumari.
He said van drivers earlier used to charge Rs 2,200 to take children to school, but now ask for Rs 3,000, while auto drivers charge Rs 1,200.
When contacted, DCP (Traffic) Ganesh Prasad Saha said, “Parents should see that they do not send their children to school with so many children. When we see passengers in e-rickshaws or autos carrying more than their capacity, we either confiscate the vehicle or apprise the first time violators to the rules. ,
TOI Viewed Ram LalThe 45-year-old e-rickshaw driver was carrying eight passengers in his e-rickshaw on Wednesday. “If we take only four passengers at a time, we will hardly earn anything,” he said. Every day, we stand in long queues with other e-rickshaw drivers and wait till our turn comes. So, whenever it is our turn, we try to get as many passengers as possible.
Vinod Kumar, branch manager of Mahindra showroom, which sells e-rickshaws and autos in Sector 50, said, “If an accident occurs while the vehicle carries more than the permissible passengers, we will not accept the insurance claim by the driver.”
Noida Extension resident Rahul Garg alleged that e-rickshaws and auto drivers have acquired a brutal monopoly on the city’s roads. “Every day, my wife goes to Delhi for work. Today she came home with six passengers sitting in front of the e-rickshaw with the driver. There was another woman on the other side of the driver. Passengers have no choice. In Gautam Budh Nagar, we depend on e-rickshaws and autos as there is a lack of public transport in the district. But, these drivers misbehave with passengers and harass them and are not afraid of law or police.”
“When we approach the police, they say take it to the RTO (Regional Transport Office). Should we go to RTO office to file complaint or go to work and come back home on time?
The government allows four passengers in e-rickshaws and three in autos. But often the number of passengers including the driver in a vehicle goes up to eight. Sometimes, a passenger sits in front with the driver, which ensures that more passengers are packed and quick money is made.
Residents said fares rise significantly if they try to travel alone or in small groups. The fee for a shared e-rickshaw in the morning is a minimum of Rs 10, but it costs Rs 40-50 for a passenger traveling alone, and it keeps on increasing with the distance. It also increases as the evening progresses. If a passenger wants to travel alone then the auto charges can range from Rs 30-40 to around Rs 200.
With schools reopening after almost two years of online classes due to the pandemic, many parents are now opting for e-rickshaws and autos to send their children to school as many school-van drivers are already working in other businesses. have gone in. According to parents, the remaining van drivers have hiked the fares citing financial losses during Covid-19, while e-rickshaws and auto drivers charge much less.
Seema Kumari, a resident of Sector 17, Noida, claimed that her family saves Rs 1,800 every month after moving from van to auto. “I have a nine-year-old daughter, and we send her to school in an auto. Three more children travel with him. I am always scared to see my daughter,” said Kumari.
He said van drivers earlier used to charge Rs 2,200 to take children to school, but now ask for Rs 3,000, while auto drivers charge Rs 1,200.
When contacted, DCP (Traffic) Ganesh Prasad Saha said, “Parents should see that they do not send their children to school with so many children. When we see passengers in e-rickshaws or autos carrying more than their capacity, we either confiscate the vehicle or apprise the first time violators to the rules. ,
TOI Viewed Ram LalThe 45-year-old e-rickshaw driver was carrying eight passengers in his e-rickshaw on Wednesday. “If we take only four passengers at a time, we will hardly earn anything,” he said. Every day, we stand in long queues with other e-rickshaw drivers and wait till our turn comes. So, whenever it is our turn, we try to get as many passengers as possible.
Vinod Kumar, branch manager of Mahindra showroom, which sells e-rickshaws and autos in Sector 50, said, “If an accident occurs while the vehicle carries more than the permissible passengers, we will not accept the insurance claim by the driver.”
Noida Extension resident Rahul Garg alleged that e-rickshaws and auto drivers have acquired a brutal monopoly on the city’s roads. “Every day, my wife goes to Delhi for work. Today she came home with six passengers sitting in front of the e-rickshaw with the driver. There was another woman on the other side of the driver. Passengers have no choice. In Gautam Budh Nagar, we depend on e-rickshaws and autos as there is a lack of public transport in the district. But, these drivers misbehave with passengers and harass them and are not afraid of law or police.”
“When we approach the police, they say take it to the RTO (Regional Transport Office). Should we go to RTO office to file complaint or go to work and come back home on time?