Strings of e-rickshaws plying to and fro on the 2-km stretch between Chandpole Masjid and Topekhana, and an equal number that run between the beginning and the end of Johri Bazaar are part of the daily grind in these parts of Jaipur city. While they carry passengers and parcels, these quiet, battery-powered vehicles also cause traffic jams that both residents and visitors increasingly find nauseating.
So much has the spurt in the number of e-rickshaws affected the residents and local businesses in these areas that they want the elected MLA to find ways to regulate them and provide relief from frequent traffic congestion.
“This area is already facing a space crunch to the point that most of our customers have to park their cars outside the walled city. You can see how 3-4 e-rickshaws are parked in the space outside our shop. At least two cars can be parked here. We cannot fight with them every day,” said Ram Pal Singh, who runs a readymade garment shop at Sikar House. His concerns were echoed by most local businesses, who said traffic jams cause them mental stress every day.
What also rankles the residents is the fact that most of the e-rickshaw operators hail from Bihar, Jharkhand and UP. “They run the e-rickshaws 24/7, not just on the main roads but also on the narrow alleys. Hardly any of them has gone through the police verification process. During the night, many of them can be found in an inebriated condition, sleeping in their rickshaws, making it difficult for our women and children passing through the streets,” said a shopkeeper on Mount Road.
Raman Chaudhary of the E-Rickshaw Association of Jaipur, however, refuted the allegations. “We provide the cheapest form of transport in the city. An autorickshaw charges Rs 100 for 200 metres, whereas an e-rickshaw charges between Rs 10 and 20. They have become the lifeline for people here, which is dominated by low-income families. If some of them do not follow the rules, they should be penalised,” said Singh.
Mustaq Khan, a labourer turned e-rickshaw operator who is a native of Agra, said the locals trust e-rickshaws more than other transport.
So much has the spurt in the number of e-rickshaws affected the residents and local businesses in these areas that they want the elected MLA to find ways to regulate them and provide relief from frequent traffic congestion.
“This area is already facing a space crunch to the point that most of our customers have to park their cars outside the walled city. You can see how 3-4 e-rickshaws are parked in the space outside our shop. At least two cars can be parked here. We cannot fight with them every day,” said Ram Pal Singh, who runs a readymade garment shop at Sikar House. His concerns were echoed by most local businesses, who said traffic jams cause them mental stress every day.
What also rankles the residents is the fact that most of the e-rickshaw operators hail from Bihar, Jharkhand and UP. “They run the e-rickshaws 24/7, not just on the main roads but also on the narrow alleys. Hardly any of them has gone through the police verification process. During the night, many of them can be found in an inebriated condition, sleeping in their rickshaws, making it difficult for our women and children passing through the streets,” said a shopkeeper on Mount Road.
Raman Chaudhary of the E-Rickshaw Association of Jaipur, however, refuted the allegations. “We provide the cheapest form of transport in the city. An autorickshaw charges Rs 100 for 200 metres, whereas an e-rickshaw charges between Rs 10 and 20. They have become the lifeline for people here, which is dominated by low-income families. If some of them do not follow the rules, they should be penalised,” said Singh.
Mustaq Khan, a labourer turned e-rickshaw operator who is a native of Agra, said the locals trust e-rickshaws more than other transport.
