‘Convert’ autos drive into a dead-end

“We will definitely abide by the High Court order. Auto-operators have to understand that they have to replace the old autos with single-mode LPG four-stroke ones. It would be best if they accept it and start applying for replacement. After all,there is no point in delaying the issue further. We are trying to see how we can expedite the loan-granting process more smoothly,” said state Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu.

Transport department officials will meet next Monday to find a way as to how the burden of loan on auto-operators whose repayment tenure is yet to be over can be relaxed.

Thursday’s ruling spells trouble for almost 10,000 auto operators who are registered after 2000 but initially fell under the notification of the state government.

“I bought my two-stroke auto after August 2000.

The government had earlier said I would be able to fit my auto with an LPG kit,which is cheaper for us. Now,we do not know what to do. Does it mean that now we also have to completely replace the vehicle? What about my previous loans then?” said an anxious Nashid Alam,who runs an auto on the Sealdah-Burabazar route.

While the Trinamool-backed auto operators union,the Auto Bachao Committee,expressed confusion on the High Court ruling and is waiting to get a copy of the order to discuss further course of action,the CITU-affiliated unions said their efforts to provide relief at least to a section of auto operators have fallen flat.

“We will sit with Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu and demand some relief to operators whose loan repayment tenure is yet to be over,” said Kishore Ghosh of CITU-affiliated auto union.