On the sly, however, many vehicles get high-powered motors installed. They brazenly defy the government ban on vehicles powered by motors consuming 250 watts. These slow-moving rickshaws add to congestion, flout traffic rules and freely move on main road, putting commuters at risk.
Experts point out that there could be a place for these non-polluting vehicles in the city, but strict regulations should guide where and how many of these vehicles should ply. At the moment, they say, it's a free for all.
E-rickshaws add to traffic snarls in Paharganj, R K Ashram Marg, Parliament Street, Uttam Nagar, Kailash Colony and Delhi University. But there's little the traffic police can do. "Vehicles with motor power of less than 250W and speed less than 25kmph are non-motorized vehicles under Delhi Motor Vehicles Act. However, some of these rickshaws do have high-powered motors," said Additonal CP (traffic) Anil Shukla.
The traffic department has suggested to the Delhi government that the operators be issued licences and permits to run the rickshaws as passenger vehicles. "There is nothing wrong in having a higher-powered engine, but the vehicle should be registered with the transport authority for it to be prosecuted," said a senior traffic official.
Illegal use of higher-powered engines is common. A study has shown that e-rickshaws need a motor of more than 650W to ferry over five passengers. Dealers add that 850 horsepower engines are the standard now, and engines with lower power are simply not available. "They come in knocked down kits from China and you cannot choose between engines," said a dealer at RK Ashram Marg in central Delhi.
Asked about the quality of the vehicles, an operator-cum-driver said he earns up to Rs 600-700 a day, of which Rs 400 goes to the three-wheeler's owner. "Running cost is low. One night's charge lets the rickshaw run for at least 50km," said Asif, a rickshaw driver.
Pitched as last-mile connectors for commuters moving into colonies off main roads, the purpose of e-rickshaws seems to have been defeated. "The maximum we can do is ask the operators to park the rickshaws properly to avoid snarls, but that too is violated," said a traffic policeman.
A study on the structural reliability of the vehicles is on the cards after the rickshaw operators took the legal route against a ban by a Delhi court that asked for a reliability and durability test on the vehicles.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
E-rickshaw menace grows, cops helpless
Dengan url
http://sehatputihgigiku.blogspot.com/2013/10/e-rickshaw-menace-grows-cops-helpless.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
E-rickshaw menace grows, cops helpless
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
E-rickshaw menace grows, cops helpless
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar