Delhi rickshaws banned in attempt to cut jams

A slice of Delhi's culture has come to an end this week with the banning of rickshaws from Chandni Chowk, the historic artery running through the ancient walled part of the city which is famed for its narrow streets and crowded bazaars.

City officials acted to confront the notorious jams that block the market street by outlawing the pedal-powered rickshaws and introducing instead a fleet of bright green buses using compressed natural gas to ferry shoppers back and forth for just 5 Rupees (6 pence) a ride.



While many residents and workers may welcome the move, saying that getting rid of the cycle rickshaws has helped disentangle the traffic jams, the rickshaw pullers who once plied their trade here are unhappy, saying their livelihoods - only marginal at the best of times - have now been further threatened.

"What will I do, how will I feed my family?" one of them told the Indo-Asian News Service. "I work from eight in the morning until late night. From whatever I earn, I have to pay a monthly rent to the owner of the rickshaw as well. What will I do after this only means of livelihood is snatched away from me?"

Another, Hamid Bashir, pointed out that motorised vehicles other than the news buses - including auto-rickshaws - were still permitted on the market street. "They might chase us away but what about the two- and three-wheelers, what about the cars? The congestion will remain."