Agra: District administration to launch campaign against ‘jugaad’ vehicles

AGRA: The district administration, taking cognizance of a TOI report which appeared on Wednesday, has decided to launch campaign against the unauthorised ‘jugaad’ vehicles operating in the city. The transport department and traffic police will have to ensure that the pollution causing jugaad vehicles do not operate in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone.In Agra, additional district magistrate (city) will monitor the campaign.
Deputy transport commissioner (Agra Zone) JS Kushwaha stated that orders will be issued to all the regional transport officers to ensure jugaad vehicles do not operate. In this regard, action taken will be monitored on a monthly basis.

The term jugaad refers to an innovative fix or a simple work-around, a quick solution that bends rules or resource that can be used in such a way. There are at least 10,000 jugaad vehicles operating in the city, according to estimate.
Jugaad vehicles are basically old, modified two-wheelers, tempos or rickshaws fitted with motor engine. These are extensively used for ferrying goods. Besides being a threat to road safety, the jugaad vehicles are causing pollution in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
Talking to TOI on Wednesday, additional district magistrate (city) Prabhakant Awasthi said, “Jugaad vehicles are illegal and will not be allowed to operate. Soon, a campaign will be launched to seize all these vehicles. Manufacturers of such vehicles will also be identified. Strict action will be taken against them.”
Regional transport officer (administration) Ashok Kumar Singh said, “It is illegal to modify old vehicles and use them for loading purposes as jugaad. All such vehicles will be seized and dismantled. Besides, action will be taken against the owners of these vehicles.”
While the jugaad vehicles may be cost effective for users, they are not good for road use. They cause accidents and are known to have poor brake mechanism.
Since jugaad do not conform to specifications of a motor vehicle, they are not covered under the Motor Vehicles Act. Therefore, RTOs do not have any record of the actual number of jugaad on the roads. These vehicles, hence, do not have any vehicles registration plate. As a result, owners do not pay any road tax.
Also, they do not have to undergo any pollution test and follow anti-pollution norms, mandatory for vehicles. That is why it is essential to ban them from plying in the Taj Trapezium Zone to protect over 40 monuments, including Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
According to sources, an old scooter can be turned into a jugaad by spending as little as Rs 10,000. A jugaad auto-rickshaw can be developed for Rs 20,000. With minimum requirement of maintenance, jugaad vehicles can easily operate for three to five years.