Balurghat, June 26: The South Dinajpur district administration has imposed a complete ban on e-rickshaws (Totos) and motor-vans (bhutbhuti) along NH512 from Monday because of increasing traffic congestion on the road.
District police chief Arnab Ghosh said the law enforcers, along with officials of local administration, had been announcing the ban over loud hailers since Friday and asking Toto and motor-van drivers not to operate along NH512.
According to Ghosh, the police and the local administration will work together to make the ban a success.
"There would be a complete ban on plying of Totos on the highway from Monday and if we find any Toto on the highway, legal action would be taken. Tractors and heavy-goods trucks will also be disallowed from plying in Balurghat town," said the SP.
The district administration had conducted several campaigns against plying of Totos before implementing the ban.
PWD sources informed that a 90km stretch of NH512 passed through South Dinajpur covering Harirampur, Balurghat, Banshihari, Buniadpur, Gangarampur, Rampur, Patiram, Hili, Malancha, Kamarpara, Teor and Chingishpur.
Acting chairman of Balurghat municipality Rajen Sheil said there were about 415 licensed Totos in Balurghat since the end of March 2015. "We have handed over a rule book to the licensed Toto drivers asking them to abide by the norms strictly and if don't they follow the rules, legal action would be taken against them." he said.
According to civic sources, there are over 1,500 unlicensed Totos plying in Balurghat town causing traffic congestion and giving commuters a harrowing time.
Sources said illegal parking and encroachment of footpaths by Totos have made life miserable for the people.
Khokon Sarkar, the president of South Dinajpur Toto Owners Association said: "We had asked the civic authority and police conduct raids against unauthorised Totos to curb the menace. A long stretch of Balurghat town covering district hospital, powerhouse and Hili-more are under NH512 where Totos are used. We learnt about the ban through campaigns by the local administration recently. The district administration should have spoken to us before implementing the ban."
