Police to act tough on errant autorickshaw drivers

DIMAPUR — With barely one day left for the autorickshaw drivers and owners to acquire the identity display card system, Dimapur Police under the establishment of deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) has decided to impound those vehicles without the display card beginning from March 1.

The Dimapur Police, in an effort to ensure passengers’ safety and assist police in streamlining the operations of three-wheelers, launched the identity display card system for auto-rickshaws at the Commissioner of Police office premises on December 16, 2023, with a timeline to comply till February 29, 2024. The concerned drivers and owners were asked to furnish complete valid documentation of the vehicle papers without any charge within the stipulated time.

With no positive response from some members, the Dimapur Police (Traffic) has decided to come down on autorickshaw drivers without the display card beginning on March 1.

It may be mentioned that the display card would be valid for two years, which would be renewed subsequently. 

A police officer informed that the exercise is still going on with the expected last date on February 29. He disclosed that police personnel have encountered many defaulters- mostly Naga three-wheeler drivers and owners- without valid documents during the exercise.

With February 29 set as the last day to obtain the display card as called by the Dimapur Commissioner of Police, failing which the vehicles found without the display card would be impounded with effect from March 1, the Dimapur police was positive that the response would be encouraging from both the drivers and the owners since the implementation would be strictly monitored.

This system as stated by the Dimapur Commissioner of Police during its launch would help the traffic personnel manage and regulate auto-rickshaws more effectively, enhance passenger safety, particularly women and the elderly, detect crimes including stolen three-wheelers and prevent unauthorised hiring by private auto-rickshaws.

It would also monitor compliance with proper documents, permits, licenses and uniforms, since many auto-rickshaws ply without renewing permit licenses for more than a decade, while some auto-rickshaw owned by Assam people ply in Nagaland after registering in the state, thus affecting the business of the local vehicle owners and drivers.

However, most of the auto rickshaw drivers, who are plying within their own areas, are oblivious and uninterested as they feel they do not come under the radar of the traffic police.

A group of auto drivers waiting for passengers on Wednesday afternoon commented that they do not feel it necessary to obtain the display card for their vehicle as they “do not take the town route and only for school duty they take the main town road.”

“It is unnecessary pestering us to provide and search documents since we know who is who among us. We feel it not necessary for us. We do not even have the auto driver’s uniform. We commute only in our area from one point to the other so we have not applied for the display card,” acknowledged a group of drivers at a parking location in Dimapur.  

During a conversation with this newspaper in December 2023, the president of Dimapur District Auto Drivers Union (DDADU), Tito Yepthomi, disclosed that there are over 5000 registered auto-rickshaws in Dimapur and Chümoukedima, but a significant number of Nagas do not register with DDADU and thus lack the required uniform and ID card.