Hooghly, 22 August (H.S.): Fear spread among toto (e-rickshaw) drivers in Uttarpara on Saturday following reports that drivers operating their vehicles on GT Road could face arrest. As a result, the drivers kept their vehicles off the road and gathered outside Uttarpara Police Station carrying placards, demanding alternative employment opportunities.

Several toto drivers operating from Balikhali in Uttarpara displayed saffron flags on their vehicles and held placards highlighting their demands. The drivers claimed that they had been verbally informed by Chandannagar Traffic Police that vehicles operating on GT Road would be stopped and their drivers could be arrested. Fearing such action, they decided not to operate their vehicles on Saturday.

Uttarpara Toto Union leader Tapas Pal said that if the administration wants to stop toto operations, alternative employment should first be arranged for the drivers. “If alternative employment is provided to us, we will not operate totos,” he said. He also alleged that the local MLA had so far taken no concrete steps to resolve the issue.

Uttarpara MLA Dipanjan Chakraborty, however, said he had no information about any decision to arrest toto drivers. He said discussions had taken place around two months ago regarding traffic management on GT Road. Since several bus routes also operate along the road, he said the possibility of identifying alternative routes for totos had been discussed.

The MLA said that around one-and-a-half to two months ago, he had held discussions with the municipal chairman, police and traffic officials on the issue, but no further initiative had been taken by the police. He added that on Saturday morning, the ACP Traffic had called him and informed him that a meeting was being held with toto drivers regarding their operation on GT Road.

Chakraborty said that no decision should be taken unilaterally without consulting all stakeholders. He stressed that the issue was not merely related to traffic management but also concerned the livelihood of a large number of toto drivers. He said any decision should be taken only after considering alternative arrangements.

The MLA also said that if any toto driver was arrested, he could approach him without hesitation as he was their elected representative as well. He stressed that while the administration must address traffic-related concerns and inconvenience to the public, it also needs to remain sensitive to the livelihood concerns of the drivers.

State Transport Minister Arjun Singh had earlier announced that toto operations would not be permitted on national highways, state highways and major roads. However, no concrete action had reportedly been taken by the local administration so far. The latest developments on GT Road have once again brought the issue of toto operations into focus.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey