GUWAHATI: Around 150 e-rickshaw drivers staged a protest against the proposed ban on their movement on 56 routes at the ISBT in Guwahati, on Tuesday, February 5.
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The proposal by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Guwahati, has sparked outrage among the drivers, who claim they are being unfairly targeted for the city’s traffic congestion.
Seeking a rollback of the restrictions, the protesting drivers submitted a memorandum to the transport department, urging the authorities to reconsider their decision. The protest escalated when the drivers attempted to march from ISBT to the transport department’s office, only to be stopped by police and security forces. In response, they resorted to a sit-in , demanding an immediate resolution.
Later in the day, officials from the transport department arrived at the protest site and held discussions with the drivers. Following this, a delegation of e-rickshaw drivers proceeded to the transport department office to formally submit their demands.
The All Assam E-Rickshaw Drivers' Union strongly criticized the transport department and district administration, accusing them of unjustly blaming e-rickshaws for traffic congestion. They argued that while traffic management is a pressing issue, singling out e-rickshaw drivers is neither fair nor a sustainable solution.
Speaking to GPlus, a senior member of the union said, "If e-rickshaws are causing traffic problems, what about other vehicles that violate road rules? Why are not larger commercial vehicles and unauthorized parking being addressed? We are being singled out when we are simply trying to earn a livelihood."
Another protester added, "Many of us have taken loans to buy these e-rickshaws. If we are banned from key routes, how will we survive? The government must give us an alternative, not just a blanket ban."
However, the Regional Transport Authority of Guwahati invited applications for objections challenging the proposed ban on e-rickshaws commuting across several regions in the city. This was revealed via an official notice issued on Saturday, January 18.
Talking to GPlus, an official from the Kamrup Metro Transport Department said, "The e-rickshaw drivers came to express their grievances. Since it's not possible for such a large number of people to enter the office at once, we asked them to submit their applications in writing."
