"Should Sindh government generate some Rs 200 million with registration of Qingqi motorcycle-rickshaws or ban be continued for long time?" A high level committee has been tasked to submit a comprehensive report on the issue at chief secretary office, it was learnt on Saturday.
The traffic police chief had imposed the ban in October, 2013, saying that the rickshaws were plying in the city without legal status and documents. Most of the motorcycles that have been turned into rickshaws are stolen. They are without number plates because they are not registered with Excise and Taxation (E&T) department, he alleged. As a reaction, the Motorcycle-Rickshaw Owners Association has filed a petition in Sindh High Court (SHC), challenging the ban petitioner had said the city administration and the traffic police have started crackdown against the operators of the three-wheelers on the pretext of causing traffic jams.
The rickshaws were introduced after an amendment was made to the motor vehicle law, restraining the Qingqi drivers from operating in the city. In order to resolve the issue, the Chief Secretary Sindh convened a meeting at his office, a week back, where the representatives of Transport department, E&T department, Environment department, traffic police and others were present.
According to a source, present during the meeting, traffic official pleaded that there are some 5,00000 rickshaws already plying on the roads so there is no need of motorcycle rickshaws as these are not capable to take some 6 to 7commuters. The traffic police official pointed out that Qingqi rickshaws were plying without the Motor Vehicle Registration Office's permission or no-objection certificates.
"They don't even have route permits. A motorcycle is manufactured so that two people can ride on it. But in this case, motorcycles are being used to carry six or seven people by attaching a trolley to it", he added. Source said that an official of environment department had also justified the ban imposed by traffic police saying that motorcycle rickshaws are major source of pollution.
The official of Transport department had taken same line saying that rickshaw drivers and owners are not getting route permits and they are creating traffic jams in the city, source added. The source claimed that only an official of E&T suggested to get registered all rickshaws as Sindh government could generate some Rs 200 million with this process.
The official also suggested that a solid policy be made to get them registered, give them route permit and fulfil all formalities and this will help the government earn millions of rupees and earnings of thousands of rickshaw drivers would be secured as well. In the meeting, a high level committee comprising of representatives of Transport, E&T and Environment department and traffic police has been constituted. The committee has been tasked to submit a comprehensive report on the issue within next 15 days, source said.
It may be noted here that the Qingqi rickshaw operators had alleged that the traffic police has banned their cheap transportation service to allow the "transport mafia" to exploit citizens.
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