VIJAYAWADA: Around 26,000 unauthorised auto-rickshaws are being operated in and around Vijayawada city, causing traffic snarls. To check this problem, the police are conducting special drives to stop unauthorised vehicles from entering the city.
Last week, a meeting was held between the Traffic Deputy Commissioner of Police and officials working with departments concerned with traffic including Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Road Transport Corporation(RTC), Vigilance and Roads and Buildings (R&B). The meeting was concluded with an aim to hold a special drive on a day-to-day basis to focus on unauthorised auto -rickshaws.
Later, the Traffic Department conducted a meeting with the city auto unions to seek their cooperation in controlling unauthorised vehicles.
According to Transport officials, non-permitted vehicles are coming from Ibrahimpatnam, Vuyyuru, Tadepalli, Kankipadu and Gannavaram.
To keep strong surveillance, Deputy Transport Commissioner had deputed two Motor Vehicle Inspectors into RTC. Motor Vehicle Inspectors are blatantly denying that there any such movement of non-permitted vehicles into the city and that they stop as many as 12 to 15 unauthorised vehicles from entering Vijayawada everyday.
When Express contacted Deputy Transport Commissioner E Meera Prasad to enquired about the movement of non-permitted vehicles, he said he was not satisfied with the explanation given by motor vehicle inspectors and instructed them to control the complete movement of non permitted vehicles into the city within 10 days. He also said 12 Transport inspectors would look into the matter every Wednesday.
However, from December 1 till date, city traffic police registered 931 cases and imposed fines on rule breakers. Around 60 auto rickshaws were seized for over loading and not having proper documentation.
In the city, traffic, transport, RTC, law and order officials conducting special drives from 8am to 10am and 5pm to 7pm everyday at seven places includes Ibrahimpatnam, Kaleswarao market, Ramavarappadu ring, Cherlapalli bunglow, Tadigadapa 100 feet road, Pipula road and Varadhi.