As Pune autorickshaw unions protest, RTO warns against ‘illegal and unsafe’ bike taxis

The RTO also said a three-member committee including district collector and deputy commissioner of police (traffic) had proposed that the government not issue new autorickshaw permits.

The protest at the Regional Transport Office was organised under the banner of the Maharashtra Riksha Panchayat by the Riksha Chalak Malak Sangathana Kruti Samiti, Maharshtra Riksha Panchayat, Shivneri Riksha Sangathana, Aam Admi Riksha Chalak Sangathana, Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, Ajinkya Riksha Sangathana and Ashirwad Riksha Chalak Sangathana.

Babasaheb Kamble, president of the Maharsahtra Riksha Panchayat, said the RTO had seized 136 bike taxis on Monday and that Deputy Regional Transport Officer Sanjay Sasane was meeting the crime branch DCP to discuss lodging criminal cases against the bike taxi operators.

Kamble also said the Centre was planning to legalise bike taxis. “The central government is thinking of legalizing these bike taxis. We request the government to consider how difficult it will be for us,” he said. Pointing out that for every one lakh people, 800 auto permits are given, the union leader said that autorickshaws would be forced off the roads if the government allowed “5,000 bike taxis”.

Sanjay Govde, of the Riksha Chalak Malak Sangathana Kruti Samiti, said, “If the officials do not act on their assurance, we will keep agitating until the demands are met.”

Kumar Shetty, another protester, complained about finance companies. “One of our concerns is the way finance companies treat us. It’s inhumane and should stop. Almost 500 autorickshaws were confiscated from Pune by Bajaj Finance and other companies. Covid has affected us badly. How do we repay the debts? There should be some way out,” said Shetty.