Mumbai, August 26: A report says that out of the total 1.8 lakh auto rickshaws in Mumbai, around 30,000 are operating illegally. The report also says that drivers with no licence, badge or permit, drive autorickshaws. Such rickshaws can mostly be found operating in the night, said a leading autorickshaw union.

The figure about the number of auto rickshaws running illegally was given by the autorickshaw union to the Times of India. The report also states that the news about the number of rickshaws running illegally comes just a day after an auto driver was arrested for masturbating in front of a female commuter.

After the police arrested the driver, it was found that he was not having a licence to ply an auto rickshaw.The report mentioned that the auto unions in Mumbai have demanded strict punishment for drivers plying without the proper paper and permission. The union has also asked for help from the Transport Commissioner office for dealing with such drivers.

Transport expert G R Vora was quoted saying by the report that most of such drivers who operate illegally work in cartels. He also added that in the past, an RTO Official in Bandra was attacked by one such cartel of auto drivers.

A local Shiv Sena leader was quoted by the report saying that many drivers have got the vehicle registered but run the rickshaw without the required permit. He said that some officials are also in cahoots with the autorickshaw drivers who run their business illegally.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2018 06:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).