Cap on number of cycle rickshaws in the city gone; residents say it will be great for the Capital's environment
Cap on number of cycle rickshaws in the city gone; residents say it will be great for the Capital's environment
Delhi government's clean and green drive had a legal sanction backing it. And the residents are also happy.
|
|
Experts demand separate lanes for cycle rickshaws to ply on city roads file photo |
Resident's Welfare Associations across the city have welcomed Delhi High Court's decision to quash the cap on the number of cycle rickshaws plying in the city.
"It is a welcome step. There should not be any cap on number of cycle rickshaw as it is a mode of non-motorized transport system: helps in controlling pollution and commuting of common people. However, the MCD should come out with a concrete policy so that it does not attribute to traffic chaos," said Pankaj Aggarwal, general secretary, Joint Front of Resident Welfare Association.
The High Court on Wednesday ruled that the limit of 99,000 placed on the number of cycle rickshaw licenses by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is arbitrary and observed that "there is no objective material which can remotely justify imposition of a cap."
"Scientific and rational road management is an everyday challenge faced by municipal and police authorities in view of the expansion of vehicular traffic in metropolises and big cities. However, to say that a segment of such vehicles primarily non-motorized--have to be eliminated altogether or drastically reduced, there has to be something more than a mere assumption," the court ruled.
However, transport expert PK Sarkar pointed out that the government must create separate lanes for the rickshaws to ply, as otherwise they would create chaos.
"It is a welcome step. However, there should be integration between various modes of transport: Metro, buses, cycle and other modes," Sarkar, head of transport planning in School of Planning and Architecture, said.
One of the litigants, Nalin Sinha said, "I believe it would not only solve the problem of rising pollution but contrary to popular belief, reduce number of motor cars as people would easily get cycle rickshaws in their vicinity to reach the Metro stations and bus stops. Also, it would be an important source of employment for lakhs of people," said Sinha, country head, India, Initiative for Transportation & Development Programmesu00a0 and co-petitioner in the case along with Manushi, an NGO.
60 lakh Number of registered motor vehicles in Delhi
76,090 Number of auto-rickshaws in Delhi
30,809 Number of taxis in Delhi
19 lakh Number of privately-owned cars in Delhi
6 lakh Number of cycle rickshaws in Delhi
