Three wheelers totally banned on all highways in Bengal
traffic congestion and prevent potentially fatal accidents, the government of Bengal has taken a significant step by imposing a complete ban on three-wheelers on both national and state highways.
As per a TOI report, Saumitra Mohan, the Bengal transport secretary, has issued directives to all district magistrates, instructing them to regulate the movement of three-wheelers by assigning them specific routes within urban and peri-urban areas.
Mohan emphasized the urgent need for action, citing the exponential growth of autos and totos as the primary culprits behind traffic gridlocks on the highways, which also pose a substantial risk of accidents. To address this pressing issue, it has become imperative to establish a committee tasked with the realignment and rationalization of routes for autos and totos, ensuring that they operate on fixed routes to provide last-mile connectivity.
Furthermore, district magistrates have been instructed to collaborate with local municipal or panchayat authorities and representatives from civil societies in this endeavor.
This move aims to not only reduce congestion but also enhance the safety of commuters and motorists on Bengal's highways.
As per a report published earlier this year, more than 2,000 people lost their lives in road accidents on highways in Bengal in 2021. Over 1,000 people were pedestrians while nearly 500 death were reported for two-wheelers.
In July, the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) has banned two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws from the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, starting from August 1.
