Siliguri, 17th March: Plying of cycle rickshaws on arterial roads of Siliguri have been banned from today. Several restriction violators were arrested since the morning. Due to this, the rickshaw pullers started protesting against the police administration.
It is to be noted, to decongest the traffic jams in the city, the police have banned the movement of rickshaws on Hillcart Road, Bidhan Road, Sevoke Road, SF Road, and Burdwan Road from March 17. In addition to this, from April 21, the movement of Totos (e-rickshaws) will also be banned on the mentioned roads.
Rickshaw pullers staged a protest on various streets including Hillcart Road as soon as the police started the campaign from this morning. They maintained that pulling rickshaws is their only source of income and condemned the administration for imposing such restrictions without providing any rehabilitation or alternative jobs.