The Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissionerate in launched a special drive jointly with RTO officials against autorickshaws plying in the twin cities without permits and valid documents on Friday and seized 116 autorickshaws.
Briefing presspersons about the special drive on Friday evening, Police Commissioner M.N. Nagaraj said that the Commissionerate had held meetings with the office-bearers of the autorickshaw owners and drivers’ associations and made it clear that they would have to get the required permits and possess valid documents to operate in the twin cities.
“We had given them time to apply and get the required documents. Many of them applied and got them. However several others continued operating in the twin cities without any valid documents. To seize such autorickshaws this drive was conducted,” he said.
Mr. Nagaraj said the drive was carried out from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and cases were filed against 124 autorickshaws.
Of these autorickshaws, 116 were seized for not having valid documents and permits, he said clarifying that only after the RTO officials gave clearance, the seized vehicles would be released. To a query, Mr. Nagaraj clarified that around 18,000 autorickshaws operated in the twin cities and those not having valid documents would be seized in the coming days. To another query, in the coming days action would also be taken against school buses ferrying students in excess number. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Renuka Sukumar was present.