Jaipur's E-Rickshaw Zone Segregation Policy Struggles to Gain Traction
The zone segregation policy for e-rickshaws in Jaipur, which was implemented starting February 13, has largely failed to make a significant impact. Despite the restrictions, most vehicles continue to operate freely across the city, highlighting enforcement challenges and poor compliance.
Limited Allotment and Enforcement Hurdles
Officials revealed that only 2,539 out of Jaipur's 27,460 registered e-rickshaws were allotted zones through a lottery process. This low number has made enforcement difficult, as thousands of unallotted vehicles remain on the roads, stretching the traffic department's capacity to monitor and regulate them effectively.
DCP (Traffic) Sumeet Meharada explained that colour-coded stickers were issued to identify allotted vehicles, but tracking violations remains a major challenge. "We will soon begin action. Those allotted must operate only in their designated zones. Others must seek allotment in any of the seven zones or face seizure," he stated, emphasizing the need for stricter measures.
Zone Division and Distribution Issues
Under the policy, Jaipur has been divided into seven zones:
- North
- East
- South
- Central
- Railway Junction
- Walled City
The Walled City zone includes five routes, each capped at 50 e-rickshaws. However, officials admitted that the response was poor in five zones, with only the railway junction and Walled City areas showing better compliance. Currently, over 90% of e-rickshaws operate in and around the Walled City, undermining the policy's goal of ensuring a more balanced distribution across the city.
Future Steps and Policy Objectives
Authorities aim to address these issues by ramping up enforcement efforts and encouraging more e-rickshaw operators to apply for zone allotments. The policy is designed to reduce congestion and improve traffic management by spreading e-rickshaw operations evenly throughout Jaipur. However, with the current low compliance rates, achieving this objective will require significant improvements in both awareness and regulatory actions.
