Move to scuttle Shimla golf cart project challenged
The Shimla Municipal Corporation that had conceived the idea of running golf carts as an alternative public transport within the restricted roads of the town had to face the government apathy when its suggestion was cancelled despite a successful trial run of these pollution free vehicles.
The Shimla Mayor and Deputy Mayor had expressed surprise over the decision by the Chief Minister who had given a flimsy excuse of not registering vehicles within the ambit of State Transport Department.
The majority residents and senior citizens who could have gotten an alternative to the overloaded Roadways taxis had termed it a political obstruction and a negative move of the government.
The CPI-M and even BJP had alleged that the Smart City project was also snatched from the historic town by presenting fudged data in favour of an unknown municipality of Dharamsala. The State Minister of Town Planning who belongs to Dharamsala had managed the “shift” with the help of Chief Minister on political grounds, complained the residents.
But the Mayor and Deputy Mayor this time moved a petition in the State High Court challenging the scuttle bid by the government for not allowing the pollution and hassle free movement of dainty and convenient golf carts here.
Interestingly the High Court seeking a reply from the government also issued notices on Wednesday on a petition seeking permission to ply these golf carts in Shimla town.
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A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a petition filed by Sanjay Chauhan, (Mayor) and Tikender Panwar (Deputy Mayor) alleging that the State has denied the plying of golf carts in Shimla city which was proposed by Municipal Corporation Shimla on sealed and restricted roads in larger public interest. The State government allows only the plying of some VIP cars on these roads and majority residents including senior citizens have to walk or use the sparingly plied government run, overloaded taxis.
The proposed MC project was rejected by the Director, Transport on the ground that the golf carts were not approved by Automotive Research Association of India under Rule-126 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1889. Secondly, on the ground that these vehicles can only be plied within the enclosed premises and public roads could not be considered as enclosed premises.
The petitioners had stated that the operation of battery operated vehicle is always more eco friendly. The smokeless and noiseless plying of these elegant carts had become a talk of the town during their trial runs.
The matter will be listed before the Court on September 30.
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