Jamshedpur to ban petrol and diesel driven autorickshaws from April 1

Jamshedpur, March 28: After giving a three-month extension, the transport department has decided to completely ban petrol and diesel-run autorickshaws in Jamshedpur from April 1. The deadline for converting all such autos to CNG and electric ends on March 31.

The deadline was initially set for January 1, 2022, but on the request of the autorickshaw union, it was extended. “We have the auto drivers cooperate in ensuring the compliance of the deadline,” said district transport officer (DTO), Dinesh Kumar Ranjan

Earlier, the operation of diesel-petrol autos in urban areas was extended for three months. The decision was taken at an important meeting held by District Transport Officer Dinesh Ranjan with representatives of Shikshit Berozgaar Auto Chalak Sangh, in which the ban on operation of diesel-petrol autos in urban areas was discussed. It was earlier decided to operate diesel-petrol auto in Jamshedpur urban area only till 1 January 2022, on which the decision to extend the deadline till 31 March 2022 in light of the demand of auto association.

The District Transport Officer gave clear instructions that by March 31, all drivers and operators operating autos in urban areas should ensure action to convert diesel-petrol autos to CNG, otherwise if caught violating the order after the stipulated time limit, then legally will be processed. He said that after March 31, only CNG and electric autos can be operated within the 16 km area of Mango Bus Stand.

Ranjan said that guidelines have been received from the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal in this regard. He said that while the operation of CNG and electric auto would help in environmental protection on one hand, the operators would also get financial benefits. The members of the auto association said that CNG autos give a mileage of about 40 km in a liter, due to which the auto operators earn a net profit of about Rs 90 per liter. At present, 681 CNG autos and 119 electric autos are operating in the urban area and action is being taken to issue permits continuously by the District Transport Office. The District Transport Officer also stressed on the compulsion of all the auto drivers to wear the prescribed uniform and said that the auto drivers must wear blue uniform, otherwise action will be taken to collect the fine if caught in the course of investigation.