RAWALPINDI, Oct 10: There has been an unprecedented increase in the number of auto-rickshaws in the garrison city of Rawalpindi where the number of rickshaws has swelled to over 2,800.

Unlike in Islamabad where rickshaws are banned, its sister city Rawalpindi is a 'rickshaws market'. The noisy tri-cycle vehicle has become a hallmark of the city and its noise can be heard in almost every street.

Amazingly there are no apparent rules regulating the operation of these rickshaws. A rickshaw owner does not need a license, a route permit or even a fitness certificate from the concerned Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to operate. Little wonder the smoke-emitting rickshaws have become a cause of the deteriorating environment in the city. Dawn

Secretary RTA, Syed Raza, tells that the Punjab government has not provided them any rules regarding issuance of permits to rickshaw operators or any guidelines about imposition of penalty on rickshaws owners.

"Thousands of rickshaws ply in the city without any license and there is no mechanism to take action against them," he said.

The environment office of the district administration has so far not impounded or imposed penalty on a single rickshaw for noise or air pollution.

Inhabitants in the residential areas often complain that the noisy vehicles are a nuisance. Many residents have also voiced concern about the parking of rickshaw vehicles in their streets. But their complaints have gone in vain.

"Rickshaws are parked in long queues in my street despite our objection. The rickshaw owners pay no heed to our reservations and park their vehicles against our will," Ali Hussain, a resident of Dhoke Kashmirian, complained.

"It seems as if the rickshaw owners pay charges for parking their vehicles here. We have informed the police against the practice but to no avail," Sohail Hassan, another resident, complained.

The inability of the Punjab government to launch its much-trumpeted public bus transportation in the twin cities has left commuters at the mercy of these rickshaw operators.