INVC NEWS
New Delhi : The situation you’ve described highlights a serious issue in Delhi involving illegal e-rickshaws, which have become a significant problem for both public safety and the economy. The large number of unlicensed and unauthorized e-rickshaws on the roads not only poses risks to road safety but also contributes to substantial financial losses for electricity companies. These illegal e-rickshaws are reportedly charging their batteries by stealing electricity from public poles, which has led to a financial loss of approximately Rs 120 crore for the electricity companies. This loss is then indirectly passed on to the residents of Delhi in the form of higher electricity charges or other costs.
Furthermore, the presence of these e-rickshaws is linked to recent accidents, including tragic incidents where people lost their lives due to electric shocks. The Transport Department’s crackdown on these illegal operations, including the seizure and destruction of e-rickshaws, is an attempt to curb the problem. However, the scale of the issue, with around 160,000 e-rickshaws in operation and a significant number of them being illegal, indicates that this is a deeply entrenched problem that requires ongoing enforcement and possibly more stringent regulations to address fully.
The illegal operations not only strain public infrastructure but also undermine the safety of both passengers and pedestrians. Addressing this issue effectively would likely involve a combination of strict enforcement, improved regulatory measures, and public awareness campaigns to mitigate the risks and financial impacts associated with these unauthorized e-rickshaws.
