In a bid to ensure free movement for shoppers along the city’s commercial hub, the N.S.B. Road, the city police have introduced regulations for autorickshaws. Under the new mechanism that came into force a few days ago, autorickshaws would not be permitted to park along the N.S.B. Road, which is dotted with shops and commercial establishments. However, autorickshaws carrying passengers would be allowed along the busy stretch. These vehicles have been accorded permission to drop passengers and move from the place immediately without parking anywhere along the stretch.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring free movement for shoppers and avoiding jam owing to parking of autorickshaws along the road, said the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Fort Range, D. Ramesh Babu, at an interactive meeting with auto drivers here on Sunday. Explaining the reasons for the introduction of the new regulations on a “pilot basis” for the auto drivers, Mr. Babu said the initiative had been launched taking into account the interests of people and to avoid traffic hold-ups.
Autorickshaws carrying passengers would be allowed on the road. They would have to drop them, take on board waiting passengers, and immediately leave the spot without parking anywhere. Parking of empty autos would not be allowed along the road, Mr. Ramesh Babu made it clear at the meeting that lasted over an hour.
He called upon the office bearers of different auto associations to sensitise their members to the new mechanism and cooperate with the law enforcers.
Mini goods carriers and load autos belonging to shops and commercial establishments would be allowed to load and unload goods from the respective establishments. However, they too would not be allowed to park along the stretch, he said, adding that the same held good with two-wheelers and private three and four-wheelers.
Stickers
He said the auto drivers were free to express their views, suggestions, and grievances pertaining to the mechanism, and bring them to the notice of the law enforcers. “We will strive to address your grievances within the framework of rules and law,” Mr. Ramesh Babu said and added that the new mechanism was not the final one.
The police have come up with the idea of providing stickers to autos operating in the Fort Range for pasting them on the front and rear sides of the vehicles for easier identification and to distinguish them from autos coming from other places. Applications would be provided to auto drivers after jotting down their names and obtaining their photographs before supplying them with stickers, he said adding that no fee would be charged for the stickers or the applications. It was purely voluntary on the part of the drivers to approach the police for stickers, he said.
He called upon the auto drivers to wear uniforms and alert the police in case they come across any persons with suspicious movements.
