Spike in corona cases: Traffic cops force autos off roads

Nagpur: Traffic police on Saturday stopped the plying of autorickshaws and also intensified the drive against double seaters on two-wheelers.
Though no fresh orders have been issued, DCP (traffic) Vikram Sali told TOI that the ban on plying of autorickshaws was re-imposed from Saturday. He claimed that the decision was taken by municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
On June 5, the NMC, after 75 days of the lockdown, had allowed reopening of markets and other commercial activities and autorickshaw and cab drivers, too, resumed business to earn a living. Autorickshaws were allowed to operate with some guidelines like ferrying only two passengers, but most of them violated the norms.
TOI too had highlighted how autorickshaws were plying with excess passengers. Regardless of the seriousness of the Covid scenario, traffic police chose to ignore violators, said an NMC official.
Though traffic police woke up from its deep slumber now, DCP (Zone-II) Vinita Sahu kept police personnel from Ambazari and Sadar police stations on their toes to act against people wandering outside without any valid reason. Her focus was especially on gathering of youngsters at Futala Lake and at Walkers’ Street near Japanese Garden. Sahu and the team from city police booked 28 persons.
DCP Sali said personnel have been instructed to ensure that taxis and autorickshaws do not ply on roads.
On Saturday, traffic police started making rounds on main roads from 11am onwards. They concentrated on busy intersections like Rani Jhansi Square, Variety Square, Ravi Nagar Chowk, Futala Chowk, Gandhibagh garden (on Central Avenue), near Munje Chowk, Sakkaradara Chowk, LIC Square. They were appealing to autorickshaw drivers not to ply until further orders. They were also using public address systems.
Meanwhile, autorickshaw drivers staged a protest outside Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s headquarters. “Both central and state governments have not heard our demands of providing financial assistance of Rs10,000 to every autorickshaw driver besides waiver of interest on EMI loans and now re-imposition of lockdown will force many of us to end our lives,” said Vidarbha Autorickshaw Chalak Federation president Vilas Bhalekar.
“No social distancing norms are being followed in markets, thereby exposing the NMC’s inability to curb Covid,” he alleged.