Auto rickshaw drivers waiting to refill CNG at the Hingne Khurd petrol pump near Sinhgad Road in Pune raised their voice after being penalised by traffic police for allegedly obstructing traffic.
Rickshaw drivers complained, “This is our necessity. If we face the fine of Rs 1500 per challan, how will we survive? The fine is more than we earn.”
'That’s More Than We Make In Day, Not Our Fault'
Ulhas Jagade, an auto driver who received a penalty while waiting in the queue for CNG, speaking to Free Press Journal, said, “The queue occurred due to a heavy crowd at the petrol pump. CNG petrol pumps are not available everywhere. We usually have to wait, as so many auto rickshaws and other CNG vehicles wait to refill the fuel. It is not our fault. On Tuesday, traffic police took photos and fined us. A Rs 1500 penalty was issued for causing traffic obstruction — an amount we usually don’t earn. Moreover, construction work on a bridge is ongoing in front of the pump.”
Another driver, Ram Kishore, said, “Were the rickshaw drivers targeted simply because they are easy to penalise? This is the responsibility of the petrol pump operator, not the drivers, to manage the queue. If traffic obstruction occurred, the pump operator should be held accountable or penalised. Auto drivers already wait in long queues for hours just to get CNG. Being fined on top of that feels like harassment. How can we survive under such pressure?”
Raju Pardeshi, another driver, highlighted that several rickshaws routinely park under the Vadgaon Bridge, right in front of the Sinhgad Road Traffic Chowky. “Despite no action being taken there, fines are being issued at petrol pumps. But police are taking action only at petrol pumps,” he said.
Raja Rajkumar Barde, Assistant Police Inspector (Traffic, Sinhagad Division), speaking to FPJ, said, “Due to construction work of the flyover, the road is already narrowed. Meanwhile, queues of auto rickshaws led to severe traffic jams on the road, which forced us to take action. However, we have given a letter to the petrol pump to manage the crowd and accordingly allow them to stand. Making a queue on the road is not permitted. Further action will be taken.”
