Cycle rickshaw pullers demand more road space

NEW DELHI - Hundreds of cycle rickshaw pullers Monday staged a rally in the capital demanding more road space for the non-motorised, eco-friendly vehicle.

Unmindful of the scorching heat, the rickshaw pullers along with social activists walked around three kilometers from the parade ground opposite Red Fort to Raj Ghat, raising slogans like “Promote rickshaws, don’t ban them”.

Madhu Purnima Kishwar, president of the NGO Manushi Sangathan, said: “As rickshaw is the only transport which is non-polluting, inexpensive and sustainable public transport available to tourists and public, we demand that licences should be made available to them just like motorized vehicles.”

Separate tracks for non-motorized vehicles as per the mandate of the Delhi Master Plan and putting an immediate stop to arbitrary penalties, extortionist bribes and harassment by the traffic police and municipal authorities were the other demands put forth by the rickshaw pullers.

The NGO also expressed happiness over the high court’s decision to monitor on a monthly basis the working of the special task force which reviews the flow of traffic, vehicle registration and makes recommendations.

“Cycle rickshaws, hand-carts and other non-motorized vehicles should be treated as an integral part of Delhi’s transport system and their use should be encouraged,” said Ramesh, a rickshaw puller, who participated in the rally.

Flagging off the rally, former director general of Punjab police, KPS Gill said: “Cycle rickshaws and street vendors helped us defeat terrorism in Punjab by acting as the eyes and ears of the police because they are street smart.”

“Police should befriend them instead of being hostile to them,” he added.