Ahmedabad Police orders mandatory registration, stickers for auto-rickshaws

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, has directed  auto-rickshaws operating in the city to get themselves registered at the respective local police stations and display identification stickers on the front and rear of the vehicle.

A circular issued on Tuesday mentions the aim is to enhance passenger safety following multiple incidents of theft, assault, and snatching reported from inside auto-rickshaws.

All police stations have been instructed to ensure compliance within 15 days with assistance from auto driver associations and vehicle owners.

Each sticker will display the police station name, the serial registration number recorded in that station’s register, and the Ahmedabad Police emergency dial number 112. The stickers will measure 10 inches by 6 inches and must be affixed to the front left body and the rear hood of every auto-rickshaw.

At the time of registration, details including the vehicle registration number, engine and chassis numbers, names and contact information of the owner and driver, and their email IDs must be recorded. Police officials said that the identification stickers will help trace vehicles faster in case of crimes or CCTV footage verification.

Currently, more than two lakh auto-rickshaws operate in Ahmedabad, transporting over 10 lakh passengers daily.

Rickshaw driver associations, however, have expressed concern over the order, saying that the Regional Transport Office (RTO) already maintains an updated database of vehicles that is accessible to the police. They argued that the order creates unnecessary difficulty for around 90% of drivers who operate lawfully, instead of focusing on identifying the few involved in criminal activities.