While the commuters in the tricity facing a tough time due to autorickshaws strike, the UT Administration on Monday reiterated its earlier stand of allowing only lPG autos in the city from April 2015 onwards.
The UT Administration met representatives of various associations of autorickshaws in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali asking them to continue plying their diesel run autos and assured them assistance to convert the diesel autos into lPG.
Talking to reporters, UT Special Secretary Finance-cum-Secretary Transport Bhawna Garg said that the UT Administration envisions only lPG autos for the ‘City Beautiful’ as envisaged in the Auto Policy, 2009. However from the current scenario of lassez-faire to the articulated policy, implementation shall happen in a phased manner affording time for auto drivers to switch over to lPG for public convenience and strengthening of public transport.
She said that meeting with representatives of various auto associations were held and we have assured them assistance to switch over to lPG autos in phased manner. The UT Administration would continue checking drive to ensure the compliance of laid norms. At present, more than 5500 diesel run autos from Punjab and Haryana are plying in the city. It was in the year 2009 when the UT Administration had banned all diesel auto rickshaws.
Around 2,700 lPG autos have been registered with the STA Chandigarh since 2009. No diesel auto has been registered since the inception of the Auto policy 2009. “All Bharat Stage III (BSIII) diesel autos registered with the DTO Panchkula and Mohali will be allowed to ply in the union territory of Chandigarh till December 31, 2014.The plying of these diesel autos will be further regulated over the weekends. Since there is less demand on public holidays therefore, the diesel autos with Odd Registration Number will be permitted on Saturdays and with even registration numbers on Sundays for these two months,” said Garg. With effect from January 1, 2015 further phasing out diesel autos would start. The BSIII diesel autos with odd registration numbers will be permitted on odd dates and with even registration numbers on even dates will be allowed to ply as such uptill March 31, 2015. And, from April 1, 2015 only lPG auto will be allowed to ply, added the Transport Secretary.
She said, “For the convenience of auto rickshaw owners, the lPG autorickshaws registered with the STA, Chandigarh will be facilitated contract carriage permit for the tricity i.e. Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. We would allow the subsidy of Rs15,000-20,000 for the lPG auto rickshaws purchased and registered with the STA Chandigarh on or after November 1, 2014 and it will be taken up for the plan budget 2014-2015.”