MCC likely to notify 112 auto rickshaw stands

Higher number of rickshaws against few stands leads to congestion

The long-pending demand of auto rickshaw drivers in the City is to be realised soon, if the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) notifies the 112 auto stands identified by the Police Department.

There are 5,685 auto rickshaws operating legally within the Mangalore City Corporation administration limits. At present, however, there are only 94 notified auto rickshaw stands that can hold only about 1,000 rickshaws. The number of auto rickshaws plying the streets of the City is increasing, making the sight of the stands running out of space to hold the rickshaws waiting very common.

In turn, this has resulted in illegal stands being set up by different trade unions. Such stands have cropped up even at small junctions and side roads, hampering the movement of vehicles. At a few places, the rickshaws are parked in two rows, which causes traffic jams and even accidents.

The rickshaw drivers and owners’ associations have been demanding for several years a notification of the designated areas for parking of rickshaws. Now, the MCC has decided to give the green signal to 112 auto stands.

The district administration had notified 69 designated areas for parking of rickshaws in the MCC limits as early as 1985. When the number of the vehicles increased later, the administration notified some more designated areas.

After 1992, the authorities did not take any measures to notify such areas, said rickshaw drivers’ association office-bearers.

The identified designated areas will be notified once the Council of the MCC approves of the list. The road safety committee meeting had witnessed the rickshaw drivers raise the issue several times and even submit a memorandum to notify 317 rickshaw stands within the MCC limits.

In 2009, although the Corporation decided to notify about 72 stands, the work could not be taken up as the widening and concretising of the roads too commenced then.

Next meeting

Deepak K Poojary, chairperson of the standing committee for town planning, who spoke to Deccan Herald, said that the decision on notifying 112 auto stands identified by the Police Department will be ratified in the next council meeting that is scheduled for August 29.

“The MCC had decided to develop major circles (junctions) – including PVS Circle, Bunts’ Hostel Circle, Mallikatte Circle and Kavoor Circle – in the City limits. While preparing the action plan for the development of these junctions, we have made provisions for bus bay and auto stands. Accordingly, the auto stands will be developed one by one. With 112 auto stands, about 1,500 rickshaws can be parked,” he explained.

“In the identified parking areas, two to three auto stands have been identified at a very close distance. The area will, however, be verified again,” he added.

“During the development of footpaths, drains, roads and junctions, the identified rickshaw stands will be developed by laying interlocks. Apart from the 112 stands, a few more areas will be identified, depending on the availability of space and requirement,” Poojary explained.