U’Khand will soon say goodbye to petrol, diesel autos

Dehradun, March 16: Pollution was a hurdle in the development of Smart Dehradun so the government is on the mode to say goodbye to diesel and petrol run autorickshaws in the city.

In this case, only electric and battery operated auto permits will be allowed in the city of Doon. Diesel and gasoline auto will get the validity of the permit, their permit will be renewed at the same time, when the new battery powered auto will be bought on the said permit. Also, permitting permits for small vehicles in the rural and inaccessible areas adjoining the city in Haridwar, including Dehradun, Vikasnagar and Rishikesh, have also been approved by the government.

On February 20, the meeting of the Divisional Transport Authority for improvement in public transport services, Divisional Commissioner Dilip Javalkar and Sudhanshu Garg, Secretary of the Authority, on 56 cases, had heard. During this time the biggest decision was to get diesel and petrol auto out of the city and there was battery and electric auto operation.

Although the auto operator continued to oppose it, considering the rising pollution, the government gave green signal to the authorities on Wednesday. The new permits will only be available for electric and battery powered auto. Now the permit of the diesel-petrol auto will not be renewed. RTO Sudhanshu Garg told that the decisions of the meeting were implemented on Wednesday evening after the approval of the government.

On the rural routes, the government has sanctioned permit from seven passengers to small vehicles with up to 13 passengers. However, their new permits will be subject to the High Court's decision because the City Bus Union High Court has been against the new permit. The registrar has been made compulsory in the form of the agent in Transport Department of merchandise dealers.