RTO detains 63 illegal auto-rickshaws in old Nagpur

NAGPUR: The city and east RTO flying squads conducted a special drive against illegal three-seater auto rickshaws plying in central and east Nagpur. On the first day of the drive, the city RTO squad detained 63 auto rickshaws.
TOI had reported how these illegal passenger vehicles plied unchecked on Central Avenue, Subhash Road, Great Nag Road, outside railway station near Cotton Market, Nandanwan area etc.Three-wheeler auto-rickshaw drivers have submitted several memorandums to both traffic police and RTO, seeking complete ban on these unauthorized three-seater auto-rickshaws.
Taking cognizance of TOI's report, on Saturday, though it was a state government holiday, city RTO S Shelke formed four squads led by deputy RTO Vijay Chavhan, assistant RTO D Sangolkar, MVI Mohan Borde and AMVI Narendra Kathane to conduct the drive against illegal auto-rickshaws in east RTO jurisdiction.
The drive started at around 8.30 am from Central Avenue when one of the squads found not only private auto-rickshaws ferrying passengers but also three-wheelers from neighbouring and even from Thane district plying here.
During the drive, these four squads rounded up 63 illegal auto-rickshaws from areas like Central Avenue, Ganeshpeth bus stop, Nandanwan road, Daga Hospital road, Lakadganj etc.
After the drive, Chavhan admitted that nearly eight of the 10 auto-rickshaws plying on that part of the city were illegal. "With our office turning a blind eye, three-seater auto-rickshaws from neighbouring districts like Yavatmal, Bhandara and Gondia too were found plying illegally. This has also affected business of three-wheeler auto-rickshaws holding permits to ply in the city," admitted Chavhan.
He wondered that most of the three-seater auto-rickshaws plying illegally in the city were registered at Nanded (MH 26), Amravati (MH 27), Buldhana (MH 28), Yavatmal (MH 29), Akola (MH 30), Wardha (MH 32), Gadchiroli (MH 33), Chandrapur (MH 34), Gondia (MH 35), Bhandara (MH 36) and Washim (MH 37).
During the drive, an illegal auto-rickshaw driver while trying to speed away after spotting the squad met with an accident at Ganeshpeth, as his vehicle turned turtle. "Fortunately there was no passenger inside," said Chavhan, adding the driver too escaped unhurt.
The news of the sudden drive spread like wildfire. Later, after 10 am, illegal auto-rickshaws stayed off the roads as the squad announced a crackdown on illegal auto-rickshaws plying without proper documents.
Chavhan said henceforth the department would quite often conduct such drives in other parts of the city too.