HC bans rickshaws in Delhi's Chandni Chowk

The Bench noted that plying of rickshaws was not only against human dignity.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday banned plying of cycle rickshaws in heavily congested Chandni Chowk-Fathepuri Masjid Road locality in old Delhi area and asked the MCD not to grant any fresh licenses for this type of vehicles.

HT Image

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice SN Agarwal however, said the ban on cycle rickshaws in the said route would go into force only when CNG buses are introduced there.

The Bench noted that plying of rickshaws was not only against human dignity but was part of an organised racket operated by mafia elements each of whom owned about 200 rickshaws.

It asked the MCD counsel to explain how the civic body was still granting licences to fresh cycle rickshaws despite the High Court banning the same in 2003.

The Bench passed the directions following a report submitted by Amicus Curaie AS Chandhiok on the various measures needed in the national capital to ease growing traffic congestion.

According to the report, a traffic management plans for Chandni Chowk area has been prepared by Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) on behalf of the transport department and the plying of CNG buses between Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid would soon commence.