Uttara Faces Rising Chaos Over Battery-Powered Auto-Rickshaws

The uncontrolled movement of battery-powered auto-rickshaws on the roads and lanes of Uttara, from sector roads to major streets, has become a major source of suffering for local residents. The number of auto-rickshaws on the roads has increased several times beyond demand, causing the most trouble for school, college and university students as well as working people.

Working people are losing valuable working hours by getting stuck in traffic jams every day. Auto-rickshaw drivers often ignore traffic signals and fail to respond to vehicle horns. They frequently compete to get ahead of one another. Some drivers even operate the vehicles while talking on mobile phones, increasing the risk of road accidents.

Arguments between passengers and drivers over such issues sometimes turn into serious disputes. Drivers also have a habit of stopping wherever they want, which further increases traffic congestion.

These battery-powered vehicles have become a major problem for local residents. Due to the growing number of auto-rickshaws, private cars, ambulances and fire service vehicles are finding it increasingly difficult to move along the sector roads.

The number of auto-rickshaws is increasing rapidly every day on important roads and areas in Uttara, including Azampur, BNS Centre, House Building in Sector 6, Rajlaxmi, Kachabari, Haji Camp, Singer Mor, Khalpar, Zamzam Tower, Jasimuddin Road and Mugdha Mancha.

Local residents complain that the uncontrolled presence of auto-rickshaws is causing long traffic jams every day. They warn that if the vehicles are not controlled immediately, the overall communication system in Uttara Model Town could face a serious crisis.

Violating traffic rules, driving recklessly on major roads and parking randomly at important intersections are causing severe difficulties for pedestrians and the general public. Meanwhile, the impact of the situation is also being felt on the power grid. A large amount of electricity is reportedly being used every day to charge the batteries of the auto-rickshaws, which residents say is affecting the power supply.

Local residents who are suffering from the situation blame battery-powered auto-rickshaws for the combined problems of severe traffic congestion and frequent load-shedding. Concerned residents have strongly demanded immediate and strict action to restore discipline on the roads and reduce traffic congestion.

Expressing anger at the Uttara Traffic Division, residents said, “An immediate drive must be conducted to keep the major roads free of auto-rickshaws.” Traffic police officials, however, said they are working regularly to control the auto-rickshaws. They said they frequently conduct drives and send the vehicles to dumping stations. They also warn auto-rickshaw drivers not to enter the major roads.

Affected pedestrians have made a different claim. They allege that auto-rickshaw drivers have an understanding with personnel at traffic police boxes. They said that if traffic police properly perform their duties and enforce the law, auto-rickshaw drivers would not dare to enter the major roads.

Local house owners said the number of auto-rickshaws on Uttara’s sector roads has increased so much that traffic congestion continues from morning until night. They called for immediate intervention by the local administration and traffic police to resolve the problem.