News

Ayodhya: Golf Cart Accident on Ram Path Leaves Several Devotees Injured

A major road accident in Ayodhya has raised serious questions about safety and traffic management ahead of the upcoming flag-hoisting ceremony. A golf cart running out of control on Ram Path hit multiple devotees, street vendors, and vehicles near the Shringarhat barrier, one of the busiest stretches in Ayodhya’s Yellow Zone.

Driver Allegedly Intoxicated; Locals Hand Him Over to Police

According to local eyewitnesses, the golf cart driver appeared to be drunk when he lost control of the vehicle. He was reportedly ferrying passengers from Hanumangarhi to Nayaghat when the vehicle rammed into people standing on the roadside.
Residents caught the driver immediately after the incident and handed him over to the police.

Preliminary Police Probe Suggests Passenger Started the Cart

However, a preliminary investigation by the police suggests a different angle. Officers claim the driver had stepped down to help passengers board when a mischievous passenger sitting in the front accidentally started the cart, leading to the accident.
The incident resulted in chaos at the spot, with several people injured and the crowd expressing anger over the unregulated movement of golf carts.

Golf Carts Not Allowed on Public Roads, Say Transport Officials

Transport department officials pointed out that golf carts are meant only for campuses and enclosed premises, not for public roads.
They do not fall under the legal definition of a motor vehicle, which means they cannot be registered. As a result:

Traffic police cannot issue challans
No formal enforcement action can be taken
Operators run carts on public roads freely and recklessly

This regulatory gap has led to an increasing number of accidents in Ayodhya.

Not the First Incident — Previous Accidents Ignored

Locals highlighted that this is not the first such accident. In May, a devotee from Tarun’s Ghoori Tikar village, Digvijay Singh, was dragged for several meters under a golf cart near the Tedhi Bazaar area, suffering serious injuries.
Despite repeated incidents, the Ayodhya Development Authority has failed to enforce proper regulation on these privately operated carts.

Traffic Police Had Warned a Year Ago

Ayodhya traffic police had already raised concerns last year, advising that golf carts should not operate in public areas. However, since the service is linked to multiple government departments, the warnings were not acted upon, and accidents continued.

165 Golf Carts Permitted in a Fixed Zone

A total of 165 golf carts have been allowed to operate within a restricted area of Ayodhya Dham. Following Sunday’s accident, the Development Authority has directed the operating firm to:

File an FIR against the driver
Take strict internal action
Ensure no golf cart runs outside the designated zone

“If these carts are found operating beyond their permitted area, strict action will be taken,” said Hem Singh, Secretary of the Ayodhya Development Authority.