Old rickshaws being registered as new ones

Despite Quetta commissioner’s orders, RTA continues exercise against hefty bribe

QUETTA: Despite Quetta commissioner’s orders, the Balochistan Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Department is registering old rickshaws as new ones against hefty bribes.

The illegal practice continues unabated in the provincial capital, which has been facing the worst traffic issues for the past decade.
Sources in the RTA revealed that the RTA secretary flanked by clerical staff commenced departmental action on old cases blatantly violating the directions of the District Administration.

Quetta Commissioner Muhammad Hashim Ghilzai had directed the RTA to halt registering old rickshaws and start the replacement process after scrapping them.



Despite the commissioner’s directions, action on old cases is going on at the RTA office and the replacement process was being done against heavy bribes.

The agent mafia has been paying a lavish amount to the clerical staff and they have been replacing new auto rickshaws without scrapping the old ones. Sources revealed that up to 50 replacements had been completed against bribes.

All Quetta Rickshaw Association member, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We don’t want to intervene in government affairs because the District Administration didn’t invite us to the meeting.
“They should have taken us onboard before taking such a decision. In that particular meeting which was held to discuss traffic issues of the city, the District Administration didn’t call us as a stakeholder in this valid topic.”