After the initial euphoria over the Transport Commissioner’s recommendation to sanction city permit to 10,000 autorickshaws, differences have cropped up over its implementation.
The recommendation not to issue new city permits to diesel autorickshaws but to limit it to CNG/LNG-powered ones and the alleged arbitrary way in which the figure of 10,000 was reached at a time when the emergence of alternative services like online cabs and proliferation of private vehicles are eating into the traditional business share of autorickshaws remain the major bone of contention.
“Any such move should be made in consultations with trade unions rather than on the proposal of an official. The existing operators residing within the city but were overlooked for city services on account of the prevailing freeze on city permits should be given priority,” said V.V. Praveen, State committee member, CITU-affiliated Autorickshaw Drivers Association.
He was under the impression that the CNG/LNG condition would not be made applicable to autorickshaws already operating on the roads. A more pressing issue was the fixation of city limits like in other cities. Treating the entire expanse of Corporation spread over 30-odd kilometres as city made the service unfeasible since operators could not charge half of the meter charge over and above the meter fare as permissible outside the city limits when chances for return trips were remote.
Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer P.H. Sadik Ali said there were at least 10,000 autorickshaws operating in the city without city permits and regularising them was a priority. Whether the CNG/LNG condition would be made applicable to them or limited to new permits alone was a call to be taken by the State government as part of a policy decision.
“Rather than demanding for fixation of city limits, autorickshaw operators should do away with their arrogance and behave with the passengers. This would automatically generate business,” Mr. Ali said.
Joy Joseph, State general secretary of AITUC-affiliated Private Motor Thozhilali Federation, accused the Transport Commissioner of turning a blind eye to the pollution caused by thousands of private vehicles headed for Lulu Mall daily while training the guns on autorickshaws, which remain the means of livelihood of a large number of poor families.
Transportation expert Dijo Kappen said that any move to allot more city permits should be done on the basis of a study alone.
