After trams and yellow taxis, now it’s time for another heritage vehicle to bid goodbye to the streets of Kolkata. The city’s hand-pulled rickshaw pullers’ organisation has approached the West Bengal government saying they are in crisis and seeking an alternate source of income.

Hand-pulled rickshaws are a unique and iconic part of Kolkata’s heritage, providing eco-friendly transport in narrow lanes and waterlogged streets where motorised vehicles can’t go. However, they are now struggling for survival.

The organisation has reportedly written a letter to the state’s Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, stating that it is in crisis and that they are looking for an alternative profession. Recently, a letter was reportedly sent by the hand-pulled rickshaw pullers’ union namely the ‘All Bengal Rickshaw Union’.

Hand-pulled rickshaws still survive in the older part of Kolkata, especially in the alleys, Chittaranjan Avenue, College Street, Bow Bazar, and Shyampukur areas of North and Central Kolkata. They are also seen occasionally in Bhawanipur.
However, the rickshaw pullers are struggling, as there is not much income, which makes it difficult for them to sustain. Apart from water-logged roads of the city in the monsoons, people hardly opt for hand-pulled rickshaws.

Hence, they are in search of alternative livelihoods. This means of transport is now endangered. The hand-pulled rickshaw pullers’ organisation has written a letter to the state’s Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, stating that it is in crisis. They are looking for an alternative profession. Recently, a letter was sent by the hand-pulled rickshaw pullers’ union, ‘All Bengal Rickshaw Union’.

What does the letter say?

The licenses of hand-pulled rickshaws were cancelled in Kolkata many years ago. But many drivers are still sticking to their old profession. Members of the organisation say that although there have been discussions about hand-pulled rickshaw drivers e-rickshaws, it has not been implemented.

As per media reports, in the letter, the rickshaw organisation claims that there are currently about 6,000 hand-pulled rickshaw drivers operating in the city. Arrangements should be made to either upgrade their profession or increase their income. The Supreme Court’s order was also mentioned, where the Supreme Court asked the Maharashtra government to upgrade hand-pulled rickshaws into e-rickshaws.

Recent Supreme Court order on hand-pulled rickshaws in Maharashtra

The Supreme Court ordered the Maharashtra government to stop the practice of hand-pulled rickshaws in Matheran, calling it “inhuman” and a violation of human dignity. The order, issued in August 2025, requires the government to phase out the practice within six months and to implement a rehabilitation scheme for the pullers. The plan includes purchasing e-rickshaws to be provided to pullers for alternative livelihoods.

History of hand-pulled rickshaws in Kolkata

Hand-pulled rickshaws were introduced to Kolkata in the 1890s by immigrants from British colonies, and they quickly became a popular and affordable mode of transportation for the middle class, serving as an alternative to the palanquins used by the elite. They have survived in Kolkata due to socio-economic factors, their ability to navigate narrow streets, and their eco-friendliness. The city is now one of the last places in the world with licensed, hand-pulled rickshaws, which are used for both people and goods and are often essential during monsoons.

Present-day challenges faced by hand-pulled rickshaws in Kolkata

Hand-pulled rickshaws in Kolkata face multiple challenges. Apart from economic hardship due to competition from modern transport and lack of support from the government, they have to deal with adverse weather conditions, and low passenger turnout. They also face significant health risks from the strenuous physical labour, poor living conditions, and lack of healthcare access.

Hand-pulled rickshaws in Kolkata are known for being a huge support to commuters in times of crisis. For example, in the monsoon season, the lanes of North Kolkata get waterlogged quickly. When the city roads are flooded, hand-pulled rickshaws are sought after in North Kolkata, to help cross the water-logged areas. But the rest of the time, there is almost no demand for them. Just as trams and yellow taxis are gradually disappearing from the city streets, hand-pulled rickshaws are also becoming very less in number.

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