Plying of autos to be curbed by 2020: MC

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 13

The plying of auto-rickshaws, which are one of the major causes of the rising pollution level in the city, needs to be stopped by 2020 in case the industrial city of Ludhiana comes under the Smart City project (in the first 20 list to be announced by the Union Government by January-end). Since pollution remained the major concern for the city resident during the initial stage of suggestions, the MC authorities, too, feel the autos should be shunned on the city roads, at least in the interior parts of the city.

The officiating Municipal Commissioner, Ghanshyam Thori, said by and large, it was the opinion of different sections of society that the “most polluted city” tag should be removed from Ludhiana. “Autos

certainly add to pollution. The safety of residents was another concern. Under such circumstances, running of illegal autos on the city roads should be curbed.

We want that by 2020, e-rickshaws should be introduced in the city and autos allowed to run only on the outskirts,” said Thori.

“There is no check on the plying of auto-rickshaws in the city. The new autos may not be emitting much smoke but the old ones, which are rarely maintained, emit too much pollution, which causes health hazards. The autos are plied in the entire city.

Whenever the authorities try to act against the autos, the unions get together and the motive is never achieved. Either these should be eco-friendly or be stopped from plying on roads, so the residents can get some respite from pollution,” said Harkirat Singh, a student.

Meanwhile, an auto-rickshaw driver said this could never be possible as thousands drivers got their bread and butter by running auto-rickshaws. “If they want us to stop plying auto-rickshaws, then they need to provide us some alternative to feed our families,” said the driver.