The West Bengal government today told the Calcutta High Court that it will not encourage influx of new e-rickshaws and mechanised three-wheeler vans from plying in the city and districts.
Submitting an affidavit before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Arijit Banerjee detailing its plans with regard these types of vehicles with little passenger safety, the state government said it would not encourage entry of new totos or mechanised three-wheelers.
The government said it would form a technical committee to suggest safety mechanisms for totos and would hold dialogue with insurance companies so that these vehicles could be insured to ensure accident claim settlements.
The state government further said it has approached the central government for upgrading of toto vehicles so that these can come under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The Chief Justice, while observing that no new toto vehicles be allowed to ply, left it to the goodwill of the state government on compensation in case of accidents till the issue of insuring the vehicles is settled.
Acting on a PIL in the matter of plying of illegal totos and mechanised three-wheelers, the high court had earlier directed the state government to take steps to stop plying of such vehicles illegally.
The court had formed a high-level committee headed by the West Bengal Chief Secretary to decide on steps to prevent illegal auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws and mechanised three- wheeler vans from plying in the city and districts.
The committee today submitted its report in the form of an affidavit before the court.
