No unregistered cycle-rickshaws in Chandni Chowk after March 31: High Court

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today said no cycle rickshaw without proper registration would be allowed to enter or ply in the crowded Chandni Chowk market here after March 31.

The direction by a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar came after the municipal corporation said it has already conducted two camps for registration of cycle rickshaws, but the turnout in the second one was not good.

The bench, thereafter extended the registration process till March 31 so that more rickshaws can be registered.

The court was hearing pleas filed by NGO Manushi Sangathan and others in 2007 on the issue of redevelopment of the walled city and creation of lanes for non-motorised vehicles.

On the issue of redevelopment of the area, the court has asked the Public Works Department to hold a meeting of the nodal officers of all agencies working there to come out with a timeline within 10 days for redeveloping the walled city.

The court also said that one person has to be made responsible for ensuring adherence to the timeline and he shall be held accountable.

Cautioning that coercive measures will be taken for non compliance of the court's order, the bench has listed the matter for hearing on April 13.

The bench had earlier also said that once the rickshaws are registered and the people cycling them are licensed, they can be allowed to ply in Chandni Chowk as a mode of public transport when motorised vehicles are banned from the area.

It had said that it was contemplating prohibiting plying of motorised vehicles in the area, but first a suitable alternative mode of transport has to be put in place along with parking facilities nearby, so that people can park their cars near Chandni Chowk and then proceed there on rickshaws.

It had further said that the walled city was an area where plying of cycle rickshaws should be "actively promoted" as they are non-polluting, reduce congestion and are a source of livelihood.