Mangaluru, March 14: In a meeting chaired by health minister U T Khadar along with Deputy Commissioner, transport authority, police officials and auto associations; it has been decided to permit auto rickshaws from rural areas of Mangaluru taluk to transport passengers into the city.
The auto rickshaws from rural areas can transport passengers to city, but immediately after dropping the passengers they have to return back.
It has been decided to paint the rural autos in green instead of yellow, in order to identify and distinguish them from city ones.
If any rural rickshaw is caught operating within city limits, the auto will be seized and licence will be suspended for three months. If the offence is repeated, the auto licence will be cancelled permanently. Auto rickshaw associations from city as well as rural areas have consented for this, revealed the Minister.
All the concerned authorities will be informed the same in order to avoid unnecessary inconveniences to auto drivers.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, RTO Afzal Ahmed Khan, Udaya Nayak- ACP (traffic) and leaders from various auto rickshaw associations were present.
