The State transport department has begun cracking down on overcrowded autorickshaws, especially the modified ones that operate as share autos.
The transport department will also take stringent action against trucks and lorries found ferrying excessive number of passengers.
The action against share autorickshaws comes after a Madras High Court order directing the transport department to take action against autorickshaws flouting safety norms.
At a meeting on Thursday, transport zonal officials across the State were asked to take stringent action against errant autorickshaw drivers.
As per official estimates, there are 60,000 autorickshaws, including Ape autos, in the city. The Ape model vehicles have capacity for just three passengers but are often found ferrying more than twice the number.
“This month, we intercepted 400 overloaded vehicles across the city and warned them,” said a transport department official.
The officials state that they would first start off with a warning.
Repeat offenders would be issues a show-cause notice and their permits would be cancelled,” said the official.
Keywords: Overcrowded autos, safety norms
It is funny to note that without a proper Road Transport policy the
transport authority are playing with public life by just warning over
loaded auto drivers, It is multiple violations committed every day and
the state machinery goes blind folded. Does the transport authority
have track of Multiple violations committed by the same vehicles and
if so action should have been taken years ago.violating permit norms
should be treated very serious and the vehicle owners should also be
arrested for encouraging overloading . Transport authority should
verify and remove all bogus owners . The only permanent solution will
be to have a proper Public transport system run by the state .
being going on for years The police does nothing to stop overcrowding,
auto drivers easily pay them Rs 50 to 100 to the police if they stop
them and carry on the same for whole day
Please Email the Editor