E-rickshaws ply in Delhi despite ban

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SME Times News Bureau | 02 Aug, 2014
A day after the Delhi High Court ordered a ban on e-rickshaws, the vehicles plied Friday in large numbers in the capital even as a police crackdown continued.

Though fewer in number, the rickshaws were seen in numerous areas including Rajouri Garden, Patel Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Mayur Vihar, Saket, Malviya Nagar, Bhajanpura, Karawal Nagar and Laxmi Nagar.

Police said they were impounding the e-rickshaws -- who number in thousands -- as their unregulated operation was hazardous to other traffic and to people.

"A total of 83 vehicles were impounded Friday, taking the total number of vehicles seized to 302. We impounded 219 e-rickshaws Thursday following the court's order," said a police officer.

A total of 85 e-rickshaws were seized from the city's north, 77 from the west, 53 from central district, 45 from the east and 42 from the south.

The court order came after a child died when he slipped out of his mother's grasp and fell into a vessel of boiling sugar syrup after she was hit by an e-rickshaw.

Meanwhile, a police officer told media that though the vehicles were being seized, there was no designated place to park them.

"As of now we are keeping them in various police stations," he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has opposed the court ban, arguing that the e-rickshaws were environment friendly and contributed to the city's public transport network.

"We respect the court's order but oppose the ban on e-rickshaws. If needed, we will approach the Supreme Court," said Satish Upadhyay, the BJP state unit president.