3-seaters adamant; 6-seaters smug

Speaking to The Indian Express, he categorically said that though an announcement to ban six-seaters from entering the old municipal limits of the city was made by former Transport minister Chandrakant Khaire in the State Legislative Assembly, none of the six-seater operators have been issued notices by the RTA. While referring indirectly to Rickshaw Panchayat organiser Nitin Pawar’s statement that the question of six-seaters ferrying school children does not arise after a decision to ban them has been taken by the State government, Sayyad said, till we are not issued notices we will continue to ply within city limits and ferry school children as well.

There are nearly 150 six-seaters which ferry school children, he informed this newspaper. All of them have been instructed to adhere to RTA norms and carry only 12 children, he said. It may be recalled here that Rickshaw Union affiliated to Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has urged the RTA to stay implementation of its norms pertaining to ferrying of school children in three-seater autorickshaws. According to the norms, a three-seater operator will be allowed to carry only six children in his autorickshaw. The Rickshaw Panchayat on the other hand has urged the RTA that the limit be increased to 10 children per a three seater. It has also decided to organise signature campaigns among parents to request RTA that instead of six, ten children be allowed in three-seaters.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Rickshaw Panchayat to discuss the issue and chalk out the signature campaign strategy was on at the time of going to press.