Chandigarh's E-Rickshaw Dream Turns to Traffic Nightmare
Chandigarh's e-rickshaws were once championed as a green and affordable solution to fill public transport gaps. Today, they have become a primary driver of gridlock and safety concerns on the city's major arterial routes. Despite explicit bans, these slow-moving vehicles continue to dominate high-speed corridors, creating growing disorder at key intersections.
Bans Ignored on Major Thoroughfares
Current administration guidelines clearly restrict e-rickshaws from V-1 roads, which are major connecting routes, V-2 arterial roads, and V-7 pedestrian and bicycle paths. They are meant to provide last-mile connectivity on smaller internal roads only.
However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. E-rickshaws regularly ply on banned routes like Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg. During peak commuting hours, they jam junctions and traffic light points across the city.
"In peak traffic hours, nearly all junctions and traffic light points are jammed because of e-rickshaws," said Abhishek Mehta, a government employee who commutes daily from Panchkula. "Neither the administration nor the police seem keen on enforcing the rules they set."
These vehicles frequently bypass traffic by driving on bicycle tracks and pedestrian walkways. This behavior further endangers non-motorised commuters who use these designated paths.
Enforcement Challenges and Staffing Shortages
The State Transport Authority (STA) has pointed to a lack of resources as the reason for this oversight lapse. A senior Union Territory official noted that the STA has "very limited staff" to issue citations. They largely rely on traffic police to manage violations.
While e-rickshaws do not require the same permits as traditional auto-rickshaws, they must be registered as commercial vehicles. The city introduced a dedicated registration series (CH01TE) and driver uniforms in 2019 to professionalise the sector.
Unfortunately, the surge in e-rickshaw numbers has outpaced Chandigarh's ability to manage them effectively. Regulatory measures have failed to keep up with the rapid growth of these vehicles on city roads.
Operators Flee to Sturdier Alternatives
Recent data suggests the e-rickshaw boom may be cooling as operators pivot toward more robust alternatives. Registration numbers tell a clear story:
- E-rickshaw registrations plummeted from 2,268 in 2023 to just 925 in 2025
- Officials attribute this decline to poor build quality of many locally assembled e-rickshaws
- E-autos are seeing steady rise in popularity due to better quality and manufacturer support
"Operators realised that e-rickshaws are often not safe or durable," a UT official explained. "They are moving toward e-autos, which offer better quality and after-sales support."
The shift from fragile e-rickshaw fleets to sturdier e-autos reflects changing operator preferences. Safety concerns and durability issues are driving this transition in Chandigarh's electric vehicle ecosystem.
Growing Public Frustration
Daily commuters express increasing frustration with the traffic situation. The promised solution of e-rickshaws has instead contributed to congestion problems. Major intersections experience heightened chaos during rush hours.
Pedestrians and cyclists report feeling unsafe as e-rickshaws encroach on their designated spaces. The gap between policy intentions and on-ground implementation continues to widen.
Chandigarh now faces the challenge of balancing affordable transport with road safety and traffic management. The e-rickshaw experiment highlights the complexities of urban mobility solutions in growing cities.
