RTA, DC told to stop plying of autos beyond MC limits

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 18

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Bathinda, the Deputy Commissioner and the state Transport Commissioner to stop plying of auto-rickshaws beyond the municipal limits in the city. The court pronounced its judgement after Tirath Singh, vice-president of the Mini Bus Operators’ Union, had filed a petition in this matter.

In the case filed before the court on September 29, the petitioner had stated that he had been suffering huge losses due to the plying of auto-rickshaws beyond the municipal limits. The petitioner also stated that while plying on state and national highways, these autos posed a risk to the lives of thousands of commuters as they drove haphazardly.       

The court in its judgment had directed the district administration and the RTA, Bathinda, to take steps to ensure that the plying of auto-rickshaws beyond the municipal limits must be stopped.

Tirath Singh said, “We had been putting up the matter before the district administration, the police department and the District Transport Officer since 2016, but nothing concrete came out of it. Last year, one of our family members handling transport was beaten up by auto-rickshaw drivers. Left with no option, we moved the court to seek justice in the matter. Now that the court had given directions against the plying of autos beyond the MC limits, we would see if the authorities concerned ensure strict punitive action against those violating the court’s directions. If the problem still persists then we would push for contempt of court proceedings against the violators.”

It is pertinent to mention here that auto drivers in the city ferry passengers beyond the MC limits, causing huge losses to the state transport and private bus operators in the district.

A private bus operator said with a large number of auto drivers plying beyond the MC limits, their buses did not get enough passengers. “We are suffering huge losses as the number of autos has increased manifold with a majority of them being run without permits. What is surprising is the careless attitude of the authorities towards this menace,” he said.

Bus operators allege that traffic snarls on national highways are often caused by auto rickshaws, which cause a hindrance in the smooth movement of traffic.

‘Pvt bus operators suffering losses’

In the case filed before the High Court on September 29, the petitioner had stated that he had been suffering huge losses due to the plying of auto-rickshaws beyond the municipal limits. The petitioner also stated that while plying on state and national highways, these autos posed a risk to the lives of thousands of commuters as these were driven haphazardly.