Gurgaon, Dec 17 (IANS): All auto-rickshaws plying in Gurgaon will be required to have a valid permit and autos without a permit will not be allowed on the roads from Jan 1, an official said Tuesday.

The permits will be issed by the secretary, Regional Transport Authority (RTA), during office hours on any working day.

This decision was taken Tuesday at a meeting of the district authorities including Commissioner of Police Alok Mittal and Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Vidyarthinand.

The meeting was informed that of the more than 18,000 auto-rickshaws plying in Gurgaon district, the majority were without permits, causing loss of revenue to the government.

From Jan 1 next year, Gurgaon police and the RTA secretary would start fining the auto drivers found without a permit.

They will be fined Rs.2,000 the first time and Rs.5,000 for the second offence.

Gurgaon police would also be checking the driving licenses and police verification certificates of the drivers and registration certificates and permits of the autos from the new year.

The authorities also decided that the permits of old autos and which don't have the annual road worthiness or fitness certificate would not be renewed to check pollution.

The RTA secretary would also look into the installation of fare meters on the autos.