The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 5,000 new autorickshaw permits to be issued

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

5,000 new autorickshaw permits to be issued

Special Correspondent

Revised rates to come into force in the current financial year

CHENNAI: : Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced several concessions for autorickshaw drivers. They include scaling down of the green tax from Rs. 500 to Rs. 200 and giving permit for 5,000 new vehicles in Chennai city to promote self-employment among the youth and to meet the transport needs of the people.

In a statement issued here, she said autorickshaw drivers had been urging the Government to reduce the green tax, saying the rate of Rs. 500 a year for vehicles in service for seven years was heavy. The revised rates would come into force in the current financial year itself.

As the middle class people in Chennai mostly depended on autorickshaws for transport, the Government decided to increase the number of autorickshaws.

Permits only for autos running on LPG

Permits would be given only for autorickshaws running on Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

In view of the increasing number of flats in the city, there were demands to allow more autorickshaw stands. Around 100 new stands would be permitted, as per requirement and without affecting traffic, she said.

While conceding the demand that the autorickshaws be permitted to carry more than three school students, the Chief Minister said that considering the safety of students, the Government decided to allow each autorickshaw to carry up to five students of below 14 years.

Since the autorickshaw sector had a scope for self-employment, the Government decided to give loans with subsidy, on simplified terms, through the Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation, or banks, to enable drivers and those who wanted to enter the sector to buy autorickshaws. The Government would provide a 25 per cent subsidy and up to Rs.25, 000 would be provided to beneficiaries whose annual income did not exceed Rs.36, 000. They should be owners-cum-drivers.

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