Lucknow, Aug 25 The Allahabad High Court has expressed serious concern over the rapidly increasing number of e-rickshaws in Lucknow, observing that the Uttar Pradesh government cannot "sit in a state of slumber" when there is increasing pressure on the city's traffic system and the vehicle-carrying capacity of roads is being adversely affected.
A Lucknow bench of justices Alok Mathur and Amitabh Kumar Rai said the state government would have to formulate an appropriate policy at the earliest to effectively address the problem and regulate the growing number of e-rickshaws.
The bench made the observations on August 21, while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Suraj Singh Visen concerning traffic management in Lucknow.
In its order, the court observed, "The state cannot sit in a state of slumber on this issue and have to wake up and tackle the issue effectively by framing a suitable policy. Accordingly, it is a serious issue which needs to be dealt with expeditiously."
The court was informed that around 80,000 e-rickshaws are currently operating in the city.
Since there are inadequate designated parking spaces for them, their congregation around intersections and major roads frequently obstructs traffic.
The bench observed that every road has a certain carrying capacity for vehicles, but the large number of e-rickshaws was adversely affecting this capacity.
The court directed the Additional Advocate General to obtain clear instructions from the Additional Chief Secretary (Transport), regarding the government's proposed policy.
The state will have to inform the court how it proposes to regulate the continuously increasing sale and operation of e-rickshaws, it said.
The issue of creating a separate traffic police cadre also came up during the hearing.
The bench observed that traffic management is distinct from the duties performed by regular police personnel and said the government should consider creating a separate cadre for traffic police to improve traffic management.
The court further observed that the local police force was already facing a shortage of personnel and deployment of a large number of policemen for traffic management put additional pressure on the law-and-order machinery.
The bench also reviewed the action taken on 153 identified improvement points aimed at streamlining traffic around the high court premises, particularly on the stretch from polytechnic to Kamta crossing.
The court directed that a detailed compliance report, incorporating the Lucknow Municipal Corporation's report and proposals of the committee constituted by the court, be placed before it at the next hearing.
The matter was then posted for further hearing on September 10.
