Pune: Amidst Increased Rickshaw Permits in City, RTO Urges Employed People to Return Their Permits Until January 31; Warned of Strict Action
Pune:
The number of auto rickshaws increased significantly in the last few years in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad city. The administration has found that people working in private or government jobs are also taking out rickshaw permits. As the number of rickshaw permits has increased significantly in the city, the RTO has decided to take action in this regard.
Therefore, RTO has framed a new guideline for issuing rickshaw permits to rickshaw drivers. Accordingly, the people who are working in private or government jobs cannot be given rickshaw permits. And if such people already possess rickshaw permits, they will have to return them to the RTO by January 31. Otherwise, the Pune Regional Transport Department will take strict action against those permit holders.
The population of Pune city has crossed the mark of 80 lakh. To cater to the transport demand of an increasing population, the State Transport Department issues permits to private rickshaws for transportation. These permits are issued as per the Motor Vehicles Act. After realising that there is a shortage of rickshaws in the city due to the increase in population, the RTO started issuing permits to new rickshaws from 2017.
Till 2017, 46,040 rickshaws received permits in Pune city. After the new rickshaw permits were issued, many people took rickshaws and obtained licenses. Due to this, the number of rickshaws in the city has increased significantly.
Currently, more than 83,000 rickshaw licenses have been issued in Pune. Similarly, 40,000 rickshaw licenses have been issued in the Pimpri Chinchwad area. Due to this, the number of rickshaws has increased in the cityy, and those who actually need them are not getting them.
Moreover, it is against the law to hold a rickshaw permit while working in another job. According to the condition in the Motor Vehicle Act, the person seeking a permit for an auto rickshaw should not be working in a government, semi-government, or private company or any other organisation. In this regard, an affidavit is taken from the person concerned while issuing a rickshaw permit to him or her.
In spite of taking all this precaution, there are complaints that some people in the city are working in other organisations and driving rickshaws in their spare time.
As per the rule, if the person gets a job after receiving a rickshaw permit, they must voluntarily return their rickshaw permit. However, people are misusing the provision, which is causing problems for the other needy auto-rickshaw drivers.
Therefore, the RTO has taken a stern approach against such rickshaw drivers. As per the latest rule, the people who are possessing rickshaw permits and also working in other organisations must return their rickshaw permits by January 31. After that, strict action will be taken against them.
