The Uttar Pradesh Traffic Department has been imposing penalties on vehicles operating on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway for violating traffic rules for the past few days.

In this context, auto unions have issued a stern warning of protests if the traffic department continues imposing fines on them.

The declaration from the auto unions comes in response to the imposition of a hefty ₹20,000 fine on three-wheelers and autos caught plying on the expressway, a route where they are not permitted.

Over the past few days, the Uttar Pradesh Traffic Police has begun imposing these penalties on auto drivers who venture onto the Noida Expressway, which is off-limits to three-wheelers.

This move has triggered strong reactions from the auto unions, as several violators received challans of ₹20,000.

In June of this year, the Uttar Pradesh Traffic Department enforced a ban on the movement of three-wheelers on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, extending from Sector 14A to Pari Chowk.

These vehicles include autos, tempos, e-rickshaws etc. The ban applies to other slow-moving vehicles as well.

While the police insist on the strict enforcement of this ban, the auto unions argue that many drivers use a small section near the Mahamaya flyover to access destinations such as Amity University.

The challans issued to drivers refer to Section 115/194 of the Motor Vehicles Act, underscoring the seriousness of the penalties.

In response to these developments, the police convened a meeting with auto union representatives on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the auto unions demanded the cancellation of these challans, threatening to initiate protests if their request was not heeded.

Noida traffic police clarified that the ban on three-wheelers and other slow-moving vehicles on the Noida Expressway had been in place since June. So, they urged auto unions to use authorized parking facilities for their vehicles.

Image Credit: Amit.pratap1988, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Common

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Noida_expressway.jpg