Owners of all auto-rickshaws with legal permits within Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) that were expected to paint their autos green by March 25 have failed to abide the directions of the administration. The painted autos were likely to ply on the roads from Saturday onwards in the city to discriminate between vehicles with permits and those without proper paperwork.
However, on Saturday only few autos were painted in green colour among all those autos which were plying recklessly in the city. Although, the auto owners have been given the deadline to complete the work within six months but looking at the sight on Saturday, it specified that they have failed to achieve the desired target. Several association working for auto drivers’ welfare have urged the authorities to extend the prescribed time.
“We have submitted application letter to the transport department to intervene on the issue and extend the time. We have also protested on the issue but no action has yet been considered,” informed, president of Diesel Autochalak Mahasangh, Dinesh Soni.
The checking drive which was to be initiated from Saturday will now kick off from April 1. “Considering the festivities, we will now initiate our checking drive from April 1 in full fledged way. Moreover, we have not received any prior notice from transport department or our seniors to start the drive. But following the HC decisions, the rigorous checking drive will be pursued in coming days,” said Traffic DSP, Dilip Khalkho.
Considering the major zones which will be covered during the drive, Khalkho, added, “The drive will cover the entire city. Major routes and sensitive zones like Ratu Road, Jail More, Argora Chowk, Birsa Chowk, Doranda, Hinoo will be under scanner and strict vigilance. If required, we will deploy additional police force to address the need.”
Those auto drivers, who ply outside RMC jurisdiction but within Ranchi district limits are suppose to paint the auto body of their vehicles black and yellow. Pink auto for women, would not have to change their stipulated colour.
The administration is on toes to implement the plan as earliest. A High Court bench had issued the direction while hearing a PIl against rising pollution level and erratic traffic in December 2015. The PIl claimed that while only 2,335 autos had permits, in reality, more than 8,000 operate within the state capital.
At present, there are approximately, 2,335 auto rickshaws with legal permits for Ranchi district. But, as many as, 8,000 diesel and petrol autos ply daily in the entire district, leading to traffic snarls and causing pollution.