Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Oct 5: The Udupi City Municipal Council has announced a fresh set of regulations governing autorickshaws and their designated stands within the city limits. The move follows the decisions taken during the District Road Safety Committee meeting held recently at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Manipal, aimed at resolving ongoing disputes among autorickshaw drivers and ensuring smoother traffic flow.
Currently, the city has been divided into Zone–1 and Zone–2 for autorickshaw operations. Vehicles registered under Zone–1 are permitted to ply only within Udupi city limits. However, persistent disagreements among drivers over which stands they may use have often escalated into quarrels, leading to five police complaints already registered at the Udupi Town police station.
To bring order to the system, the district administration has issued a detailed directive outlining the new policy:
• A total of 58 autorickshaw stands within Udupi city limits—41 authorised and 17 previously unauthorised—have now all been declared official stands.
• The Udupi City Municipal Council will be the sole authority to issue stand permits for autorickshaws.
• Every autorickshaw must display on the back of the driver’s seat: the driver’s name, the designated autorickshaw stand, the vehicle registration number, and the driver’s mobile number for passenger reference.
• The rear side of each vehicle must prominently display the zone and stand name assigned by the municipal council.
• Drivers already operating at a particular stand must apply for permits through the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Only after RTO recommendation will the municipal council issue the official permit.
• No autorickshaw will be granted permits for more than one stand.
• Between 11:00 pm and 4:00 am, Zone–1 autorickshaws may halt at any stand within Zone–1 limits.
• Requests for new stands will be considered jointly by the Transport and Police Departments, with recommendations placed before the District Road Safety Committee for approval.
• All autorickshaw permits must be renewed annually, with updated fitness certificates and vehicle documents submitted to the municipal council.
• Zone–2 autorickshaw drivers currently using Zone–1 stands have been given two months to convert their permits to Zone–1; failing which, they will lose access to Zone–1 stands.
The administration’s decision is expected to bring clarity and discipline to autorickshaw operations across Udupi city. By formalising all stands and tightening the permit process, officials hope to curb disputes and improve road safety for commuters and drivers alike.