Thiruvananthapuram: The Road Transport Authority’s (RTA) decision to enforce a colour change on city autorickshaws has not gone down well with the unions who feel that a mere chameleon act cannot ward off auto-rickshaws from rural parts illegally plying in the city.
An RTA meeting chaired by district collector Biju Prabhakar has decided that the front portion of the auto-rickshaw with permits will have to be painted yellow by November.
Auto-rickshaws illegally coming to city in the morning from suburbs like Nedumangad, Attingal and Neyyattinkara are blamed for several law and order issues.
As they carry out services till late night, the streets of a city which has issued just 4,001 auto permits gets saturated by over 35,000 auto-rickshaws.
“Once they plan to implement it forcefully, we will either move the court or go on strike," said Pattom Sasidharan, the general secretary of the AITUC-affiliated Motor Thozhilali Union.
"First, they should give at least 15,000 new permits. The number of wards in city has gone up to 100 from 50 but they have not issued permits for two decades”.
Regional transport officer (RTO) Thulaseedharan Pillai said similar laws had made huge difference in urban localities of Kannur, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kollam.
“Changing colour is a technique to help us audit the real number of auto-rickshaws. Since most of the old auto stands have been lost in road widening, corporation will assess the space available here and then we will re-issue permits. Unions in other districts who have moved court have only lost the case,” the RTO said adding that unions will be taken into confidence.
Meanwhile, the union workers point out that the illegal auto-rickshaws operate even at prepaid stands run by the city police. “Most auto-rickshaws on our streets are not of KL 01 (Thiruvananthapuram RTA) registration. Why do you need a yellow colour when you can see the registration plate and slap fine? This is a way to unnecessarily waste our Rs 3,000,” said Shibu, a bonafide auto driver.
