In response to the rapidly increasing population in Bengaluru, the state government has announced plans to issue permits for an additional 1 lakh auto-rickshaws. Currently, there are 1.55 lakh auto-rickshaws operating in the city, and this number is expected to increase to 2.55 lakh over the next five years.
The transport department has specified that these newly licensed autos should be environmentally friendly, equipped with LPG, CNG kits, or electric engines to reduce air and noise pollution. Furthermore, digital fare meters will be mandatory for these new autos.
It’s worth noting that permit holders of existing auto-rickshaws will not receive new permits under this decision.
This initiative follows a previous directive from 2018 when licenses were issued for 30 thousand autos. The recent announcement reflects a substantial increase compared to previous years’ plans.
The addition of more auto-rickshaws aims to improve transportation accessibility within Bengaluru due to its growing population and increasing urbanization trends.