10-year-old autos to be phased out

Gurugram: In a major decision to curtail vehicular pollution, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has given the directions of not allowing auto-rickshaws older than 10 years ply on roads. The move will be implemented from the time the vehicles were registered. He made the announcement during the grievance redressal committee meeting in the city.

Khattar said that all auto-rickshaws older than 10 years shall be impounded. He emphasised the need of a regulated and safe public transport system and said that the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, and the Gurugram traffic police would jointly prepare a policy for auto-rickshaws plying illegally without registration and carrying passengers more than the specified limit. It is expected that by this move over seven to ten thousand vehicles may be at risk of being impounded. At present, there are 30,000 autos that are operational in the city. Shortage of effective public transportation system has ensured that most of the residents are dependent upon older autos for their travel needs.

Speaking on the harmful effects to Gurugram's air caused by the older autos,a senior official from the Haryana Pollution state control board said, " There have been a lot of complaints with regards to the pollution that is been caused by the shared diesel autos. A major reason it has that most of these autos are extremely old, poorly maintained and use low-quality fuel as a means of cutting their cost."

Asked about solutions, the official said, "The Government has y introduced about 500 e rickshaws in the city, besides this, there is also city bus services which are been enhanced."

Besides causing pollution, the auto owners have also been blamed of plying without the legal permits from the government agencies, illegal parking, rash driving and also allowing more customers than its usual capacity of accommodating around 8 travellers which put the safety of the travellers at risk.