Auto-rickshaws continue to risk commuters’ lives

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 24

Unruly auto-rickshaws have added to the commuters’ woes in the city.

Auto-rickshaw drivers stop their vehicles anywhere, disrupting traffic on roads. In a bid to get passengers, they even stop in the middle of roads without giving any indication, resulting in traffic jams and mishaps.

A number of auto-rickshaws carry passengers more than the stipulated number. The lives of passengers and other commuters are at stake due to the same.

There are several busy points in the city where a huge traffic is witnessed on a regular basis. These areas include railway station, bus stand, Civil Hospital, Rose Garden Chowk, Ajit Nagar and Teen Koni.

A number of city residents alleged that several accidents had been reported due to rash driving of auto-rickshaws in the city.

Moreover, they carry more than the permitted number of passengers.

Sonu Kumar, an auto-rickshaw driver, said: “We provide good facility to passengers. We drop and pick them from wherever they want us to do so.”

Gurpreet Singh, a passenger, said: “We don’t know what the traffic police and the civic authorities are doing.”

“Auto-rickshaw drivers in the presence of traffic police personnel create chaos on roads by ferrying 14-15 passengers in their vehicles at a time. Despite stopping them from doing so, the police become a mute spectator, he said.”

Sania Agarwal, a resident, said: “Auto-rickshaw drivers do not follow any traffic rules and regulations. Moreover, they charge double the fare from passengers many a time.”

DSP Gurjeet Singh Romana said: “We will immediately start the documentation work of auto-rickshaw drivers and start counselling for them regarding traffic rules and regulations.”