Mangaluru: The decision of the Dakshina Kannada district administration to relax zone rules for electric, methanol, and ethanol-based autorickshaws in the district has drawn flak from autorickshaw drivers’ associations.
Opposing the circular issued by deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP, allowing electric, methanol, and ethanol-based autorickshaws to operate across the district without any restrictions, the Federation of Karnataka Autorickshaw Drivers Union has warned of protests if the decision is not withdrawn.
Union secretary Mohammed Ansar said the DC’s decision was unilateral. “The decision will lead to several issues. The district administration has ignored the demands of autorickshaw drivers in the district. The zone system for autorickshaws was introduced considering the issues related to traffic congestion and parking. However, the new decision has created confusion that the zone rule applies only to those autorickshaws that run on LPG and CNG. Hence, the DC should immediately withdraw the decision,” he said, adding that the union will have to launch a protest if the district administration does not consider the demand.
Recently, the DC had issued a circular allowing electric, methanol, and ethanol-based autorickshaws to operate across the district without any restrictions. The DC had stated that the previous circulars of the DCs dated Nov 24, 2022, and the amendments of Jan 23, 2023, have been cancelled. As per the previous circulars, electric, methanol, and ethanol-based autorickshaws had to obtain zone-wise identification stickers and numbers from police department. However, as per latest circular, electric, methanol, and ethanol-based autorickshaws will no longer need to obtain stickers and numbers for zone 1 and zone 2. Further, such autorickshaws will be allowed to operate in all taluks , as per the circular. TNN
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