MANGALURU: In a move to control congestion and regulate vehicle numbers, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner (DC) H. V. Darshan on October 30 announced that newly registered electric autorickshaws will not be allowed to operate within Zone 1, that is, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) limits, starting October 31.
The order, issued under Section 115 of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, empowers the government to restrict the use of certain types of vehicles in specified areas. The DC stated that Mangaluru already has a sufficient number of autorickshaws to meet the city’s commuting needs.
Mangaluru already overcrowded with autorickshaws
As per official data, Mangaluru city has 10,050 registered autorickshaws, of which 6,949 run on LPG/CNG and 3,551 are electric. However, only 2,156 vehicles have designated parking slots across 208 authorised stands. The surplus has led to unauthorised parking and traffic congestion, particularly in the city’s central business district.
| Police limits | Authorised stands | Authorised vehicles | Actually parked | Excess parking | Present capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic East | 92 | 577 | 981 | 404 | 776 |
| Traffic West | 83 | 661 | 981 | 320 | 793 |
| Traffic North | 6 | 110 | 361 | 251 | 76 |
| Traffic South | 27 | 165 | 511 | 346 | 511 |
| Total | 208 | 1,513 | 2,834 | 1,321 | 2,156 |
Source: Mangaluru City Corporation
Background: From exemption to restriction
Earlier, the administration had frozen new autorickshaw permits for the MCC limits in 1997. Electric autorickshaws, however, were exempted from permit requirements by the Union Road Transport Ministry in 2019 to encourage eco-friendly transport.
But after repeated complaints from conventional autorickshaw operators, the Karnataka Transport Department on July 1, 2025, withdrew the exemption, making it mandatory for all e-autos — existing and new — to obtain permits, though free of charge.
Following this, the DC invoked the updated rules to deny permits to newly registered e-autos within MCC limits.
Legal backdrop
The issue has been under legal scrutiny since 2023, when the DC’s earlier order restricting electric autorickshaw entry into the city was challenged in the Karnataka High Court. The High Court had asked the DC to reconsider the matter, leading to a temporary lifting of restrictions in July 2024.
However, conventional autorickshaw operators again approached the court, arguing that unrestricted e-auto operations created an uneven playing field.
DC’s powers reaffirmed
Clarifying the move, Karnataka Transport Commissioner A. M. Yogeesh said that Deputy Commissioners have the authority to restrict or regulate the use of motor vehicles based on local traffic conditions.
He dismissed suggestions that the withdrawal of permit exemptions was aimed at curbing e-autos, stating, “Even otherwise, a DC can restrict movement of particular categories of vehicles in specific areas, depending on local needs.”
What this means for Mangaluru commuters
While the decision may ease congestion in city limits, it could also limit the expansion of electric mobility in Mangaluru. Existing e-autos will continue to operate, but new registrations after October 31 will be barred from plying within MCC limits.