Crackdown on e-rickshaws after entry on Dakshin Marg in Chandigarh restricted

The traffic police here have launched a crackdown on e-rickshaws operating on the Dakshin Marg, starting from Zirakpur side. For smooth flow of traffic, the UT Administration had decided to ban or imposed restrictions on e-rickshaws on certain major roads like Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg due to traffic congestion.

The District Road Safety Committee (DRSC) had recently directed the State Transport Authority (STA) and Chandigarh Traffic Police to identify specific routes for e-rickshaws and restrict their entry on major roads such as V1 (connecting Chandigarh to other cities), V2 (Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg) and V7 (cycle tracks).

The move, aimed to ease traffic congestion and improve road safety, was launched on Dakshin Marg, where e-rickshaws have been causing disruption to heavy traffic, especially ambulances.

To enforce the ban, traffic police have set up barricades at the entry points on the road and started issuing challans to the violators. Officials stated that the presence of slow-moving e-rickshaws on major roads like the Chandigarh-Zirakpur route was causing severe disruption to traffic flow, particularly during peak hours.

Following this initial drive, the authorities plan to extend the campaign to six more major roads across Chandigarh. These include Sector 43 ISBT to Sector 42/41 road, Sector 17 ISBT to Aroma light point road and routes passing through Sectors 7, 14, 15 and 22, which are often clogged due to poor traffic arrangements.

The decision to ban e-rickshaws on these roads was taken as these vehicles affect traffic flow because drivers stop anywhere on the road to pick passenger and their slow speed on busy roads like Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg disrupts traffic movement.

A senior traffic official confirmed that challans had already been issued to e-rickshaw operators and more such drives were planned. Public awareness campaigns will also be undertaken to inform both commuters and drivers about the newly enforced restrictions. The move was initiated after road safety committees had been long demanding stricter regulation of e-rickshaws in busy city areas.