Cachar bans e-rickshaws in municipality areas: Eco-friendly arguments find no space

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They say ” the more the merrier”. Well for some, more is definitely merry but for few, more options may bring problems. More options in its merry way threatens monopoly and challenges incumbency. In Barak Valley, we are witnessing something similar, auto-rickshaws in Silchar and other parts of the region has so far enjoyed a sort of monopoly when it comes to short distance communications.

Commuters today either reserve a full auto-rickshaw or travel to desired destination by riding on a shared rickshaw. There is a fixed charge when it comes to sharing service, in case of reserving the vehicle – it depends on bargaining skills… Recently, e-rickshaw entered the market, as the name suggests, these are electrically charged vehicles which is also considered an eco-friendly substitute of petrol fuelled engines. In March 2015, the Indian Parliament passed an amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2015 legalising e-rickshaws.

The entry of a new entity has awakened the existing auto-rickshaw fraternity from its slumber. The Silcharians first noticed these e-rickshaws during the Durga Puja last year, and the number has only been increasing since then. However, in Hailakandi district e-rickshaws came much earlier and have almost replaced the black-yellow auto-rickshaws. The electrically run vehicle has emerged a good mode of earning livelihood for unemployed youths of the district. Silcharians too are excited with the arrival of the e-rickshaws, and some even tried it, only out of sheer excitement.

Incidentally, auto rickshaw drivers are irked by this excitement; they fear that this e-rickshaw excitement might eat up their pie, which was exclusively available for them. Hence they have resorted to protesting the penetration of e-rickshaws. There have been calls for strikes, several high level meetings between various auto-rickshaw union leaders, which made headlines on local dailies. But what is it that they want? Our correspondent spoke to Bikash Bhattacharjee, president of auto owners’ association, to find the answers…

He told us that the administration has reduced the permit of the auto rickshaws in Silchar from 16 km to 10 km citing increase in traffic jam as the reason. The point he makes is that the rest of the towns of the state have 16 kms permit while only Silchar’s permit has been curtailed. On the other hand, the same authorities are allowing e-rickshaws to run in the town, how is it that auto-rickshaw increases traffic and e-rickshaws do not, is their primary point of argument. “We are demanding a clarification from the district administration regarding the mobility of the e-rickshaws as they are not supposed to enter the municipality area as per the gazette notification of the Assam Govt. dated 1st April, 2016,” he added.

Seems like he has won the first bout as on Tuesday, in a meeting between various stakeholders and district administration a diktat was passed that the e-rickshaws cannot enter the municipality area. The gazette notification of 2016, which stated that the electronic rickshaws may only be used to establish a connection between the Silchar Municipal region with others, was used as the logic behind the banning of e-rickshaws in municipal areas.

Interacting with the media, district transport officer Angshuman Biswas said, “E-Rickshaws will be allowed to operate in the district only as per the rules that have been laid down, as per which, they have been asked to operate outside the Silchar Municipal area”.

As there is no well-organised association of the e-rickshaw owners yet, we spoke to Samim Alam Barbhuiya, the owner of Jangid Motors, which sells lions’ share of e-rickshaws in Barak Valley. He told us that change is the only constant thing in life, and we have to adapt ourselves to the change with the passing of time. He gave examples of Bajaj Auto, a company that produces most of the auto rickshaws plying on the road, itself shifting its focus towards electronic vehicles. He said to us ” E-rickshaw is meant for short distance journeys and is the alternative to rickshaws. So, there is no question of conflict between e-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws.”

In a time when everywhere e-vehicles are considered as an eco-friendly substitute, administration citing a 2016 diktat and taking a decision in 2018 is certainly a move against time. One cannot ignore the serious environmental challenges that we are facing in these days of globalisation due to which electric vehicles has become the need of the hour.

So is it the end of the road for e-rickshaws in municipality areas or will they recharge themselves to turn the game in their favour? Or will Silchar ride on the old roads? Only time will tell…what we know for sure is, “Time they are a changin…”