The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has cracked the code to identify auto-rickshaws that ply in Ranchi city without valid permits.
The apex vehicle regulator of South Chotanagpur commissionerate has mooted a proposal to paint green every auto that has a licence to operate within the capital while the rest reserve their black body, yellow hood. Pink autos, meant exclusively for women passengers, have been kept outside the purview of the proposal.
The file is currently with the state transport department for vetting and RTA officials said it would be sent for cabinet sanction before being notified in Ranchi.
Elaborating on the need for a colour code, RTA secretary Rajesh Kumar Barwar said the decision was taken at a joint meeting with the traffic department and Ranchi Municipal Corporation. "It will help us easily identify autos without permits. The colour code has been suggested under Section 179 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Once approved by the cabinet, it will help traffic rule enforcers to nail illegal vehicles," he added.
On paper, Ranchi has around 2,235 autos within city limits. But, around 10,000 ply every day. Most of these run on diesel and belch smoke, polluting the air that 10-lakh-odd residents breathe in. The menace is so alarming that last week Jharkhand High Court directed district transport authorities to stop issuing fresh permits to diesel-run autos. The court also ordered setting up of LPG outlets and recommended colour coding.
Incidentally, several green-coloured autos already run in Ranchi, but whether they have permits or not nobody knows. These vehicles are engineered to run both on LPG and petrol, and they debuted in the capital city over the past couple of years. With no LPG stations in Ranchi, they continue to run on petrol.
Asked how officials would distinguish between good green autos and rogue ones, Kumar said they would introduce a new clause in the permit issuing system.
"Autos that already have permits will be told to repaint for a reissue. For new permits, green colour will be mandatory from the start. We shall hold meetings with auto associations and discuss implementation of the plan. The idea is not to harass anyone, but streamline commuting and reduce pollution," the RTA secretary said.
Transport commissioner Ratan Kumar could not be reached. One of his deputies maintained that the file had been received from RTA and would be forwarded to the cabinet in early January. "From tomorrow (Thursday), holidays begin. So, the file will move only after office work resumes," he said.
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