AGARTALA, May 22 (TIWN): Despite High Court direction to carry only 3 passengers at a time, it was noticed that that auto rickshaw drivers were carrying 4 to 5 passengers in the broad day light under the eye of the Traffic police in the streets of Agartala.

It is alleged that the Traffic rules and regulation are limited to the pen and paper and nothing is practically implemented.

When asked, Traffic SP Smriti Ranjan Das said the department is regularly checking the violation of the traffic rules by the auto drivers and is taking the necessary action. Interestingly, question arises if action is being taken why there is a report of traffic rule violation in the streets.

A passenger alleged that, not only the auto drivers carries more than 3 passengers they also charges hiked fare from every commuters. Day after day auto rickshaws and other contract vehicles in Tripura are charging higher fares from commuters, following the state transport department’s effort to restrict the number of passengers travelling in these vehicles. Autorickshaw drivers charged much higher fares from commuters across the state, including various places under Jirania District. The arbitrary increase was more than 50 per cent in many cases on different routes here.

Traffic SP Smriti Ranjan Das also claims that regularly awareness campaigns are organized to aware the auto drivers regarding the violation of traffic rules but in reality there is no existence of such campaigns.

A passenger stated that auto rickshaws are the only major source of travelling in the streets of Agartala and taking that advantage of situation the auto rickshaws in normal times charge higher fares at night or during rain, completely violating the government fare rate.

Day after day the auto drivers are ruling in the streets of Agartala violating the direction of the High court and the authority is playing the role of a silent spectator.