Jamshedpur, May 22 : In a bid to tighten noose of the erring autorickshaws operating without city permits, the Traffic Police gas embarked on a drive across the city. The decision to conduct regular inspection comes in due to spurt in cases of mishaps in the city.
Officials informed The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Ranchi permits issued specifies that five seat capacity autos (diesel version) can run within South Chotanagpur region except in municipal corporation and municipality areas (meaning urban areas). In city roads only the three seat capacity autos (read smaller autos of petrol and CNG versions) are allowed to run as mass transport. Several of the owners are fluting norms.
Deputy superintendent of police (traffic) Vivekanand Thakur said that violation of road permits would leads to a fine of Rs 5000 which would double with repetition of offence.
“We have started conducting inspections. If anyone has a complaint, they have the option to approach the court. Autorickshaws that operate without city permits action is being taken against them,” he said.
He went on to add that the drive was taken up to create awareness among people on the risks involved in travelling in vehicles which were not given permit by the authorities concerned.
The road permits have a validity period of five years and new permits issued since November 2012 forbids the diesel version autos from plying on city roads. The earlier RTA permit (before November 2012) for autos in Jamshedpur used to give permission for running within 16 kms radius from Sakchi.
There are around 25,000 autos which are plying on various routes in city roads at the moment and around 40 percent of these autos fall under violation of new permit rule.
Senior police officials said that drives would continue in the city in the coming days to create awareness among people and to improve the traffic safety in the town. Stern action would be initiated against the autorickshaw drivers and owners, if they were found violating the rules, they warned.