Capital’s tongas get brief respite, to end May 31

NEW DELHI - Tongas, which were supposed to go off the capital’s roads Monday by orders of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, will now continue their journey a little longer as the civic authorities have decided to give them time to ply till May 31.

Over 250 tongas still ply in Delhi. They used to ferry passengers — often as many as six people besides the driver — or carry loads in areas of Old Delhi. The decision to phase them out was taken at a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) standing committee meeting last year.

Deep Mathur, spokesperson for MCD said: “The national capital will have no tongas or horse-driven carriages. MCD is phasing out this old form of transport. Within 15 days the tongawallahs should dispose their vehicles and animals.”

“The MCD will be giving permission to 10 buggies to ply for marriage processions. There will be no horse-carts available for ferrying passengers or loads,” he added.

Krishan Kumar, deputy commissioner (city zone) of MCD, said: “The tongas were asked to go off the roads by Monday. Since the tongawallahs (tonga-drivers) asked us for some more time, we have allowed them to ply till May 31. Most of their licences end by this month-end.”

“Tongas that ply for ferrying passengers or goods after May 31 will be impounded by MCD,” he told IANS.

He added: “We have already started to issue them letters for tehbazari sites (vending licences) in east Delhi near Shastri park. With this arrangement, they will be given job options as vendors.”

A civic authority official said: “Of the 132 tongawallahs who hold single licence, 93 have been provided with tehbazari licence. The remaining 39 will also get them soon. Those having more than one licence to ply tongas will be provided financial assistance to buy a CNG-run goods-carrying vehicle.”

Syed Abdullah, who has been a tonga-driver for the past 10 years, told IANS: “The MCD has given tehbazari permits in east Delhi. But most of us live in Old Delhi areas and shifting goods from there to Shastri Park in the east every day is practically very difficult.”

Hamid Ansari, another tonga-driver, said: “The MCD actually promised us full structure with land for tehbazari. But now the authorities are saying land will be allotted without building. Without a proper building how can we do business?”

“Moreover, for those who have more than one tonga licence, the MCD has promised 25 percent assistance to buy a CNG-run vehicle. But a new vehicle costs around Rs.4.5 lakh (Rs.450,000) and the financial help is too little,” Ansari said.