Srinagar, Mar 09, : Commuters had a harrowing time reaching their destination on Wednesday as E-rickshaw service on Lal-Chowk-Bohri Kadal remained off the roads due to the strike by the E-rickshaw association. Dozens of commuters told news agency Current News Service (CNS) that since the launch of e-rickshaw services along the route through the interiors, the local populace heaved a sigh of relief. However, to utter surprise they are off on roads causing huge inconvenience to daily passengers here in the summer capital. “We had got respite from the hefty fare as we found these e-rickshaws more convenient to reach the destination, “Instead of 15rs I had to pay 90rs to reach my workplace in Lal Chowk”, said one of the female commuters. Meanwhile, e-rickshaw drivers held a protest outside RTO office demanding officials to allow plying of the battery-operated vehicles on the allotted routes. The drivers said that they have been plying on the Lal Chowk-Bohri Kadal route for the last six months. However, they said the authorities are not allowing them to ply on the route anymore due to reasons better known to them only. “We have purchased these e rickshaws on heavy loans, some of us have even sold jewellery of our spouses and we are poor people”Drivers further said that this mode of transportation is non-polluting and they carry multiple passengers in one go.
