HYDERABAD: The Government has decided to permit women to drive autorickshaws in the twin cities by relaxing the registration rules of the three-wheelers.

Hitherto, there was a ban on new registrations in the twin cities. But from now, registration and plying of 500 new autorickshaws will be allowed. Orders were issued on Tuesday reserving 500 route permits for women in Hyderabad and 100 each in Vijayawada and Vizag.

The decision to relax the `no-new-auto registration' rule was taken in view of the increasing number of tourists visiting the city.

"Our idea is to promote women entrepreneurs. It will be easy for women passengers to commute in autos operated by women, as many complain about arguments and extra charges being collected by male drivers," says Joint Transport Commissioner C.L.N. Gandhi.

The autos operated by women will sport a different colour from the usual black and yellow and will be fitted with digital meters and run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

The RTA also has plans to provide extra police security to the women auto drivers operating during nights at major junctions.

Registration of new auto rickshaws was stopped from July 2002. The Government cited limited road space and increase in pollution as the reasons.

Voice of dissent

However, the latest move to permit women drivers has been opposed by the Auto Drivers Joint Action Committee which feels that the job was `too strenuous' to be entrusted to women.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail