Tony slams ‘illogical’ zone system for e-rickshaws, calls it a flop show
Jammu, November 2: District Development Council (DDC) Suchetgarh and senior Congress leader Taranjit Singh Tony on Sunday lashed out at the Jammu administration, accusing it of taking arbitrary and anti-people decisions that have caused widespread public inconvenience.
Tony strongly criticized the administration’s move to implement a zone-wise restriction system for e-rickshaws, terming it “illogical, poorly planned, and a total flop show.” He said the decision has led to confusion and chaos among both commuters and e-rickshaw operators.
“Under this new policy, a rickshaw registered in one zone is not allowed to cross into another. As a result, passengers are being forced to change two or even three rickshaws just to cover short distances within the city,” Tony explained.
“This has not only created hardship for the public but has also hit the livelihood of poor e-rickshaw drivers who depend on daily earnings,” he added.
Tony said instead of facilitating smooth public transport, the administration has disrupted local mobility, turning daily commuting into a cumbersome exercise. “The public transport system should serve people, not punish them,” he remarked, demanding that the zone-wise system be rolled back immediately.
The senior Congress leader also protested against the barricading of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway near Bathindi, calling it another example of bureaucratic insensitivity. “The barricades and wall erected near Bathindi crossing have made life miserable for residents. To reach the opposite side, one has to travel a long detour. This is sheer harassment of ordinary citizens,” he said.
Tony urged the administration to take the public into confidence before enforcing decisions that directly impact their day-to-day lives. “Governance cannot function in isolation. People’s convenience and livelihood must remain at the center of every policy,” he asserted.
The protest was joined by Balvinder Singh Rinku, Shamsher, Ram Bhagat, Raj Kumar Raju, Kuldeep, and youth leader Shahbaz, among others. Following the protest and public outrage, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic, Amit Bhasin, intervened in the matter, after which the barricades at Bathindi were removed, bringing much-needed relief to local residents.
Tony thanked the SSP for the prompt response but reiterated that such anti-people measures should never be taken without proper consultation. “The administration must learn from this episode — the zone system has turned out to be a flop show, and decisions made without ground understanding only alienate the public,” he said.
