Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: Transport workers across Tripura are pushing back hard against new entry curbs on auto-rickshaws. The state government recently banned vehicles without specific city permits from operating within the Agartala Municipal Corporation. Traffic officials claim the move aims to fix chronic city congestion caused by too many three-wheelers.
"It is a collective decision of the AMC, Transport Department and the Traffic Unit of Tripura police to curb traffic snarls in the city," a traffic department official said. The ban covers both CNG autos and battery-powered e-rickshaws. Police set three drop-off points for these drivers: Nagerjala for vehicles from the south, Radhanagar for those coming via airport road, and Chandrapur for traffic arriving from Jirania.
Labor groups are furious. CITU, the BMS-affiliated E-rickshaw Sramik Sangha, and the BJP-aligned E-rickshaw Sramik Samiti all organized separate protests. They argue the policy kills jobs without actually fixing traffic. Union leaders point to failed past mandates, like a requirement for meters that never actually started working.
CITU leader Amal Chakraborty led a delegation to the Joint Transport Commissioner to demand better consultation with drivers. Meanwhile, the E-rickshaw Sramik Sangha filed an 11-point demand list with the District Magistrate of West Tripura. E-rickshaw drivers are hit hardest, particularly those relying on online ride apps. Officials noted that some exceptions exist for emergency situations.
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