Siliguri sets six new toto routes; 9,195 e-rickshaws allocated to different zones

Siliguri, 03rd September: To regulate the increasing number of e-rickshaws (totos) and address traffic congestion in the city, the Siliguri Metropolitan Police has introduced six new zones and routes for e-rickshaws (totos).

According to the list received from the RTO, there are 11,199 registered e-rickshaws (totos) in the city. Of these, 9,195 e-rickshaws (totos) with local addresses have been divided among six different routes. A total of 2,004 e-rickshaws (totos) registered with addresses outside Siliguri, including Bagdogra, Rangapani and Fulbari, have not been included in these routes.

Different-coloured stickers with barcodes have been issued to identify the respective routes. Route No. 1 will have 1,519 e-rickshaws (totos), Route No. 2 will have 2,000, Route No. 3 will have 1,780, Route No. 4 will have 879, Route No. 5 will have 1,256 and Route No. 6 will have 1,761 e-rickshaws (totos) operating under the new system.

Police said the new arrangement is expected to streamline e-rickshaw (toto) movement in the city and help control traffic congestion. Action will be taken against e-rickshaws (totos) found operating on unauthorised routes.

On Thursday, e-rickshaw (toto) drivers were provided with stickers bearing their route numbers and barcodes at the Bhakti Nagar Traffic Guard. Police Commissioner Syed Waquar Raza, DCP Traffic Quazi Samsuddin Ahamed, ADCP Traffic Purnima Sherpa and ACP Sudhir Kumar Dutta were present at the programme.

The Police Commissioner said the implementation of the six new toto zones is expected to reduce traffic congestion and bring better control over e-rickshaw (toto) movement in the city. E-rickshaw (toto) drivers also welcomed the initiative and requested regular monitoring of all routes.