The UT Administration today gave an undertaking in the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it will give the permits to LPG-driven autorickshaws on first-come-first-serve basis. It also assured to publicise the scheme to help the beneficiaries avail of the facility. The High Court has given liberty to the autorickshaw workers union to move the court if they have any grievance in future. The All-Mohali Autorickshaw Workers Union had moved court seeking directions against a ban on plying of diesel and petrol-run autorickshaws. The petitioner had submitted that as per the agreement between the Punjab government and Chandigarh Administration,a total of 500 LPG-run autorickshaws each would be allowed to be operate in each others territory. The Punjab government submitted that on September 17 it had issued an advertisement about the guidelines for issuing the permits on first-come-first-serve basis. 53 drivers fined In a first-of-its kind of special drive,the State Transport Authority today issued challans to 53 autorickshaw drivers for not wearing uniforms. The special drive will continue till October 31. In addition to this,drives to check pollution and speed governors will also be carried out in the city. The special drive for putting a check on autorickshaw drivers defaulting in uniforms was conducted in collaboration with the Chandigarh Traffic Police. As per the guidelines,drivers should wear grey uniform with a badge displaying their name. Fifty-three drivers were slapped with a fine of Rs 300 each. The fine for the second offence by the same driver is Rs 600 and the third would result in cancellation of his licence. The special drives for speed governors have already carried out in the city but this was the first of its kind. The attempt is to make the drivers presentable and enable customers to know a drivers name they are travelling with, said Vandana Disodia,STA Secretary. Chandigarh to get 20 more tuk-tuks by month-end Seeing the popularity of radio autos,20 more radio autos will be added to the existing fleet of 10 by October end. The plan is to gradually increase the number to 100. The number would be added by the existing single operator who is running the service of radio autos or tuk -tuks in the city. According to the operator,the response to the service has been commendable. The order for 20 more autos had already been placed with an auto company in Mumbai. The delivery of these vehicles will be done in another 10 days. Once procured,these would be immediately put into operations as the company is already facing a crunch of autos. We have to decline bookings everyday, said Colonel (retired) V S Dhillon,managing director of Tricity Tours and Travels. Though the operator expressed that despite the demand,he would like to go slow in increasing the vehicles due to shortage of LPG in the tricity. There has been a sudden spurt in the number of normal LPG autorickshaws in the city due to the Administrations ban on petrol and diesel-run autorickshaws. This has resulted in increased pressure on the existing two fuel stations in Chandigarh.
