For the first time, the UT Administration has framed bylaws to control and put restrictions on the plying of rickshaws and loading rehris with the aim of making them follow the traffic rules and bringing down the number of accidents.
The administration has notified the bylaws which will be made applicable after seeking suggestions from residents.
Under the bylaws, the registration and licence for rickshaws and loading rehris have been made compulsory and no one will be allowed to ply them without registration and a licence issued by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
The rules also restrict the number of persons travelling on a rickshaw. A rickshaw-puller should not carry more than two persons on his rickshaw. Two children under the age of 12 years are to be counted as one person, whereas a single child less than seven years of age is not to be counted. Loading rehris and parking rickshaws is not allowed at the places other than those specified for the said purpose by the administration.
Licences to ply rickshaws and loading rehris will only be issued to bona fide residents of the city above the age of 18.
The limit for carrying maximum weight on a rickshaw or a rehri has been fixed at 150 kg. All owners should make sure things such as a bell, reflectors at the front and back, mirror on both sides of the handle and the licence plate and the registration number plate are fitted on their rickshaws.
Licence holders will also have to follow the directions of the Traffic Police. The police have been given the powers to impound a rickshaw in case it is found violating the rules.
Fees have been fixed to get released impounded rickshaws. Violators will be fined Rs 300 for the first offence, Rs 400 for the second and Rs 500 for the third offence.
Fee for registration certificate is Rs 600 for 10 years and Rs 1,000 for 15 years. Likewise, licence fee will be Rs 300 up to the age of 50 years.
An officer of the administration said the bylaws were made as it had been observed that the number of accidents involving rickshaws and rehris had increased in the absence of any rules to regulate their plying.
