ND: Cycle rickshaws to be manned scientifically

New Delhi, May 30: The cycle rickshaws in Delhi will now be manned scientifically by means of 'Sensor chips'.

In pursuance of a Delhi High Court order to evolve a mechanism with regard to unlicenced and unauthorised cycle rickshaws plying on roads of Delhi and to enhance revenue collection, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has come up with a proposal to install tamperproof sensor chips in all the rickshaws.

A proposal in this regard was brought up in a meeting of the MCD standing committee.

Each sensor chip installed in a specific location in the rickshaw will carry such information as a unique serial number, the zone of the MCD where it is licensed to ply, its owner and validity.

The tamperproof mechanism would enable the civic authority to have a systematic data, as also in foolproof identification of all tax assesses and proper collection of taxes, codifying violations, if any, and easy profiling and targetting of unlicenced rickshaws.

Also, it will avoid chances of duplicity of licences.

However, the proposal is still under consideration.

Besides, the MCD has also approved a policy to grant cycle rickshaw licences with different colour scheme for different zones, sources in the MCD said.

It has also planned to remove the category of rickshaw owners who are not themselves pullers for the purpose of granting licences to stop exploitation of poor.

These steps have been taken in pursuance of a Delhi High Court order in a civil writ petiton titled Hemraj&others Vs Commissioner of Police&others'' directing MCD to evolve a mechanism with regard to unauthorised and unliensed cycle rickshaws plying on the roads of Delhi.

UNI