JAIPUR: After putting the process for zone demarcation of e-rickshaws in Jaipur on the backburner, the state government is keen to woo the e-rickshaw associations by increasing the ‘quota’ of e-rickshaws to be plied in the city.
In a recent meeting of the Traffic Control Board of the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), the board had approved to increase the quota of e-rickshaws in the city from 29,000 to 32,000.
“When the government proposed to form 11 different zones across the city for the e-rickshaws to ply, they had restricted the maximum number of e-rickshaws for these 11 zones to 29,000. In simple words, maximum 29,000 e-rickshaws would be allowed to ply on the city roads. In this meeting the government had increased the number to 32,000 and it was much needed,” said Raman Choudhary, the secretary of a e-rickshaw association of the city. In March 2023, the transport department had demarcated 11 different zones across the city, including a metro zone. Each of these zones would have different colour codes. E-rickshaws of a specific colour would remain confined within one zone.
To implement this policy the government had formed a committee. The committee comprises three members from the transport department, two members from each of the two Municipal Corporation in Jaipur, two members of the associations, DCP traffic of Jaipur Commissionerate and one representative from the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation.
However, owing to strong resentment from the e-rickshaw associations and for a few technical issues the government could not implement the policy. With elections round the corner there is hardly any time to implement it before the forthcoming assembly election.
“Then what was the use of increasing the quota of e-rickshaws right not? The decision taken at the traffic control board meeting is nothing but to woo the drivers and owners of the e-rickshaws and members of the e-rickshaw association before election,” said a senior government official who did not wanted to be quoted.
On Monday, the e-rickshaw associations are expected to meet the transport commissioner to discuss on the future course of actions.
In a recent meeting of the Traffic Control Board of the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), the board had approved to increase the quota of e-rickshaws in the city from 29,000 to 32,000.
“When the government proposed to form 11 different zones across the city for the e-rickshaws to ply, they had restricted the maximum number of e-rickshaws for these 11 zones to 29,000. In simple words, maximum 29,000 e-rickshaws would be allowed to ply on the city roads. In this meeting the government had increased the number to 32,000 and it was much needed,” said Raman Choudhary, the secretary of a e-rickshaw association of the city. In March 2023, the transport department had demarcated 11 different zones across the city, including a metro zone. Each of these zones would have different colour codes. E-rickshaws of a specific colour would remain confined within one zone.
To implement this policy the government had formed a committee. The committee comprises three members from the transport department, two members from each of the two Municipal Corporation in Jaipur, two members of the associations, DCP traffic of Jaipur Commissionerate and one representative from the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation.
However, owing to strong resentment from the e-rickshaw associations and for a few technical issues the government could not implement the policy. With elections round the corner there is hardly any time to implement it before the forthcoming assembly election.
“Then what was the use of increasing the quota of e-rickshaws right not? The decision taken at the traffic control board meeting is nothing but to woo the drivers and owners of the e-rickshaws and members of the e-rickshaw association before election,” said a senior government official who did not wanted to be quoted.
On Monday, the e-rickshaw associations are expected to meet the transport commissioner to discuss on the future course of actions.
