Autorickshaw Display Card System not to ‘harass’ anyone, CP Dimapur clarifies

March 5, 2024 11 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 5

Dispelling ‘confusion’ and ‘miscommunication’ surrounding the enforcement of the ‘Autorickshaw Display Card System,’ Commissioner of Police, Dimapur Kevithuto Sophie, today clarified that the implementation was not to ‘harass’ any autorickshaw driver or owner.

Addressing media persons during a press briefing held at his office, Sophie made clear that the system, an initiative of the Dimapur Traffic Police was being implemented for the betterment of both drivers and passengers, and the owners.

The Commissioner of Police maintained that this was worked out with a view to effectively manage and regulate traffic congestion by streamlining the plying of autorickshaw along Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland districts. The system will also ensure the safety of passengers, especially that of women and the elderly, or for that matter, the younger children, he mentioned.
It will prevent and detect crimes committed through this mode of transport, including stolen autorickshaw, while also to check expired documents, permits, driving without proper license, and without wearing proper uniform.

The display cards which are pasted on the seat of the driver at the back, can be easily accessed by the passenger in case of an emergency, where one can contact the police control room from the helpline numbers displayed.

The system has been approved by the RTA (Regional Transport Authority) under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur. He maintained that the system has been implemented in tandem with the Police Administration, the Transport Department and that of the autorickshaw unions to have an efficient workflow.

The card will display the name of the auto driver, vehicle number, driving license number, unique identification code, and the ID number of the auto driver’s union and the jurisdiction of operation by the respective autos.

To a query, Sophie informed that so far, a little over 800 drivers have registered till this morning, while many were queued up.

For the drivers plying without the display card, the Commissioner said they are being seized and issued a seizure memo and kept until all the necessary papers are completed, after which the vehicle will be released back to them.

With insufficient manpower, the system is not being implemented at every point of the three districts. At present, some parts of Chümoukedima and Dimapur were operational phase-wise, on a daily basis, he informed.

In regard to renewal of old cars, he said that the older it gets, the more fees will be added. “If the car is 10 or 15 years old, that is not an excuse, they are supposed to renew the registration, the permits, every year,” the Commissioner stated.

In the case of the auto being seized by the police, Sophie clarified that they are not taking any penalty, but rather being compounded. “We are giving them time to get it renewed and come and release the respective vehicles,” he said while asserting that it was ‘just a one-day work.’

The Commissioner had flagged off the first few autorickshaws on December 16, 2023. The three months’ time allotted for completing the verification process, ended on February 29.

Maintaining that ample time had been provided, Sophie urged the drivers and owners to get it renewed immediately while they still had a chance to do it without penalty. “We have already seized quite a good number of autos in Chümoukedima and Dimapur,” he stated.