Bengaluru to get 1 lakh new auto-rickshaws in bid to boost last-mile transport

BENGALURU:

As many as one lakh new auto-rickshaws will be added to Bengaluru’s fleet, with the Government of Karnataka approving a fresh round of permits, marking a major expansion after a gap of several years.

The development comes even as auto-rickshaw unions have been against the expansion, stating it affects their livelihood.

Overall, the move is expected to encourage commuters to shift away from private vehicles, given that auto-rickshaws remain the go-to mode of transport in the city amid inadequate coverage of mass public transport networks.

Despite expansion plans, Metro rail and BMTC bus services continue to have limited reach, making autos a critical last-mile and point-to-point mobility option in Bengaluru.

Under the revised terms, the transport department has approved 80,000 permits for green auto-rickshaws fitted with four-stroke BS-VI engines, while 20,000 permits will be issued for BS-IV autos.

All vehicles must be equipped with authorised LPG, CNG or electric kits and digital fare meters.

The decision forms part of a broader plan to expand auto-rickshaw permits in Bengaluru, with the state proposing to issue 2.55 lakh new permits over the next five years, translating to an increase of about 65% in the city’s authorised auto population after a prolonged freeze.

Apart from the revised permit allocation, no other conditions in the original notification have been altered, the government clarified.