The Siliguri Metropolitan Police on Friday mentioned that cycle rickshaws will not be allowed to ply on five arterial roads of the city from March 17.

“The cycle-rickshaws can run on other roads, lanes and by-lanes excluding Hill Cart Road, Sevoke Road, Burdwan Road, Bidhan Road and Station Feeder Road. The decision has been taken to curb traffic congestion and avert accidents across Siliguri,” said Abhishek Gupta, the deputy commissioner (traffic) of the SMP. “Keeping in mind the upcoming HS exams, it has been decided to allow e-rickshaws, which have valid registration plates, to move across the city till April 20. From the next day, these vehicles too, cannot run in these five arterial roads,” he added.

Gupta also underscored that these vehicles would not be allowed to ply on NHs and the AHs which skirts Siliguri.