E-Rickshaw Boom Turns Anantnag Roads into Gridlock; Residents Seek Urgent Regulation

Unregulated E-Rickshaw Growth Turns Anantnag Traffic into Daily Chaos

Arif Rashid

Anantnag town is witnessing growing traffic congestion, with residents blaming the unchecked increase in the number of e-rickshaws operating on its roads. What was initially introduced as an affordable and eco-friendly mode of transport has now become a major source of inconvenience for pedestrians, commuters, and shopkeepers alike.

Locals allege that registrations were issued without a proper mechanism to regulate the movement and number of e-rickshaws, resulting in overcrowding on key roads and market areas. The frequent stopping of e-rickshaws at random locations, coupled with a lack of designated routes and parking spaces, has significantly contributed to traffic jams becoming a daily routine in the town.

Shopkeepers in the main market areas complain that the continuous congestion affects business activity and creates difficulties for customers. Pedestrians also face challenges navigating through busy streets due to the large number of e-rickshaws competing for passengers.

Adding to the concerns, that most number of e-rickshaws operating in Anantnag town are allegedly running with expired fitness certificates. The enforcement agencies should conduct a comprehensive verification drive to identify vehicles whose fitness validity has lapsed and take appropriate action.

Locals believe that strict checks on vehicle fitness, registration and route permits are essential to ensure passenger safety and bring discipline to the rapidly growing e-rickshaw sector.

Reports suggest that more than half of the e-rickshaws operating in the town have expired fitness certificates, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight and road safety.

Commuters acknowledge the usefulness of e-rickshaws but stress that their operation must be streamlined. They have urged the authorities to introduce a route-based system, designate specific stands, and regulate the number of vehicles operating on each route.

Residents believe that assigning e-rickshaws to different sectors of the town and strictly enforcing traffic regulations would help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. They have appealed to the district administration, transport department, and traffic police to take immediate measures before the situation worsens further.

The growing demand from the public is not for the removal of e-rickshaws, but for proper planning and regulation to ensure that the facility serves commuters without disrupting normal traffic movement in Anantnag town.