West Bengal is planning to restrict toto, or e-rickshaw, operations to last-mile and feeder routes rather than allowing them on major roads. The move is aimed at reducing traffic pressure on busy stretches while preserving the role of smaller vehicles in local connectivity.
The proposal suggests a clearer division between transport modes. Under such an approach, totos would mainly help passengers travel between neighborhoods and larger public transport points, instead of competing for road space on key corridors.
Officials appear to be linking the plan to a broader effort to improve traffic flow and strengthen bus services. Keeping slower, small-capacity vehicles off main roads could make it easier for buses to move more efficiently and carry more commuters without added congestion.
If implemented, the policy would reshape how totos fit into the state’s urban transport system. It reflects an attempt to balance convenient last-mile travel with the need to manage overcrowded roads and support higher-capacity public transport.
