L-G order banning cycle rickshaws set aside

Noting that the L-G’s decision to ban cycle rickshaws from plying on arterial roads was “not consistent with the Master Plan Delhi-2021 provisions,” the court of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and S Muralidhar said the “unilateral” decision which overturned the proposal by UTTIPEC was “unsustainable as it overlooked the decision making process put in place through the UTTIPEC and the Special Task Force (STF)”.

The court directed the L-G to convene a joint meeting of the STF,UTTIPEC,DCP (Traffic) and other stakeholders to discuss issues of NMV lanes and decongestion of Chandni Chowk.

The court also directed the L-G to convene the meetings within four weeks,and ordered that a complete report,including the minutes of the meeting,be submitted by July.

Since 2010,the High Court has been monitoring the scheme for minimising congestion,reducing pollution levels of motor vehicles,and providing access to all classes of vehicles on roads. A Special Task Force,consisting experts from the government,traffic,urban planning and police had been set up to review road traffic issues in the capital. The NGO Manushi had also filed a writ petition with regard to the licencing of rickshaw pullers in the capital,and has been assisting the court in the monitoring process.