Gurgaon: Hundreds of Auto CNG rickshaw drivers on Wednesday standing outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office near the Mini Secretariat protested the launch of e-Bect in the city.
The problem – the police did not allow autos to pass the e-rickshaw zone “on behalf of environmentally friendly initiatives”.
Earlier on Monday, Minister Haryana Mansa Manohar Lal Khattar marked 600 e-rickshaws for the city’s first electrical rickshaw zone.
It includes Cyber City, Golf Course Road, IFFCO Chowk and Huda City Center.
The project, called ‘Parivartan’, is intended to replace 12,000 diesel cars and gasoline gradually.
However, in the last two days, even CNG Autos – was considered environmentally friendly because of fewer emissions – not allowed through the new zone.
MCG has not explained why CNG vehicles are being discussed in environmentally friendly plans.
There is no response from officials despite repetitive calls.
Meanwhile, outside the DC office, slogans against the state government hire air in the midst of collecting car drivers.
Singh (38) rampal, one of the protesters from Mamat, has driven his car in Gurgaon for the past 10 years.
Yesterday, his vehicle was stopped by the police on his way to the city center of Huda from the 40 sector.
“I was surprised.
They said CNG Autos was not permitted to graduate.
However, they allowed me with a warning,” said the rampal.
For the driver, who has suffered losses due to a pandemic, a new project has added misery.
Rampal said, “We have struggled to make a living.
Only when the situation returns to normal, new restrictions have caused problems with us.” Arvind Kumar (25), who came to Gurgaon from Bihar eight years ago, was carrying passengers from the bus standing to MG Road when the car was stopped.
“The police told me that my car should not be seen in the area or they would defeat me,” Kumar Toi said.
“We might end up starving to death,” Kumar added.
Both Singh and Kumar have a big loan to pay back.
The protesters accused the government playing in the hands of private companies by grabbing the livelihoods of the poor.
Their request – to let CNG autos ply without limitation.
“What we ask, is it unauthorized? Do we oppose e-rickshaw? We only asked the government to let us work like before,” asked Mahavir Singh, Chair, Auto Chalak Polakihan.
Don’t let in the e-rick zone, CNG automatic protest drivers
