The Lucknow Police on Tuesday released 16 color codes for e-rickshaws that will be systematically operated in the state capital, which is divided into 16 zones.
       The colors are identified using two-color stickers with a barcode, zone number and zone name in the middle.
        The color coding scheme was the brainchild of Joint Commissioner of Police, Law and Order Upendra Kumar Agarwal, who distributed color tags to 23,761 e-rickshaws through a lottery system on Tuesday. Via an order dated December 30, 2023, the city police introduced a color-coding scheme for e-rickshaws to identify their routes and thereby manage traffic congestion.
        We distributed a free form to all e-rickshaw drivers, both online and offline, and asked for detailed information in three areas including name, address and driving preference. In addition, the entire city is divided into 16 districts, each district has an assistant chief of police, and each district has about three police stations.
        “Due to higher demand in certain areas compared to the number of vacant positions, in the interests of fairness, the allocation of space is carried out by lottery. So far, around 26,890 forms have been filled online/offline, out of which 23,761 forms have been accepted. Correct and eligible EV drivers/owners who have applied offline or online for the lottery will be allocated an area through the lottery system to drive the EVs based on their occupancy.
        “After allotment of zones, e-rickshaw drivers have been given one month (from June 11 to July 10). During this month, all e-rickshaw drivers will have to affix colored stickers on their e-rickshaws,” the press release said. from the JCP office.
        This is still less than half the number of e-rickshaws operating within the city. According to official data, around 53,361 e-rickshaws registered in Lucknow are yet to be registered to operate in select areas. 55% of e-rickshaws – a total of 29,600 rickshaws – are yet to be registered under this rule.
        These e-rickshaw drivers/owners have until July 10 to register and operate the vehicles legally. JCP Agarwal said that after this date, action will be taken against them, which may include seizure and confiscation of e-rickshaws.
       The most congested areas are: Charbagh Road, Charak Chaurakha, Awadh Chaurakha, Polytechnic, Kaiserbagh Junction, Kamta Junction, etc.
       The distribution of lines is valid for one year: after that, a lottery will be held again to give everyone an equal opportunity to work in the city.
        Suggestions and objections from e-rickshaw drivers/owners will also be considered within a month. All of the above procedures are free, and no agency charges any fees.