Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 23: It is a known fact that auto rickshaw permits that are issued for a song, fetch a fortune when sold in black market. In this coastal city, the prices of valid auto rickshaw permits have soared to dizzy heights, as they happen to be a scarce commodity. At present, auto rickshaw permits, which are obtained by paying a paltry fee of Rs 500, reportedly command as high a price as nearly two lac rupees.

This revelation came in the form of concerns raised by a number of organizations representing auto rickshaw drivers in the city, in a meeting convened in the city presided over by district deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, on Saturday November 22.

These organizations pointed out that permits issued for operating auto rickshaws in the city under several government-sponsored schemes were being sold for astronomical amounts, thus defeating the very purpose of these schemes. Several of these schemes aimed at empowering people from scheduled castes and tribes, minorities, weaker sections, and others.

V N Prakash, an office bearer with Dakshina Kannada District Auto Rickshaw Drivers Association, claimed that these permits, which are issued by collecting a fee of Rs 500, are sold in black market. He said that at present, these permits command a price of between Rs 1.5 to 2 lac per permit. He urged the district administration to intervene in the matter and take measures to stop black marketting of these permits. He wanted the permits of those who are unwilling to use them for themselves and become self employed, to be recalled and issued to unemployed persons who want to support their families by driving the three-wheelers on their own.

Similar sentiments were echoed by president of Dakshina Kannada Auto Rickshaw Drivers Association, B Vishnumurthy, who brought pressure on the regional transport authority to ensure that auto rickshaw permits are not issued to those who already run other businesses, and those who are employed elsewhere.

President of Auto Drivers Federation, Ashok Kumar Shetty, wanted the administration to put in place systems in the process and procedures relating to issuance of permits to plug wrongdoings. The auto drivers also wanted the administration to ensure that city permits are not issued to those who reside outside the city corporation limits, and make it mandatory for the auto rickshaws to prominently display zone numbers.

The DC passed instruction to regional transport officer, Afzal Ahmed Khan, to see that irregularities do not take place in the matter. He also instructed officials to properly scrutinize applications for issuance of permits under various schemes of the central and state governments, before approving them. He was told that auto permits under general category are not being issued in the city since 1997 because of the proliferation of three-wheelers in the city.