Karnataka high court: Can Bangalore roads hold more autos?

Following a government order to increase the number of auto permits in the city by 40,000, the high court on Friday directed the government to submit a report on the road conditions to check if it is feasible to accommodate those autos.

Hearing a petition filed by Mohammed Abbas, chairman, Karnataka State Auto Drivers’ Welfare Joint Action Committee, Justice Hulvadi G Ramesh, while giving this directive also told the petitioner not to register any more autorichshaws for now. The matter has been adjourned to April 20.

Abbas had stated that the government’s decision to increase the number of autorichshaws from 85,000 to 1.25 lakh will benefit the manufacturers and dealers only.

The auto drivers’ welfare committee chairman also contended that the government, while taking the decision, did not consider the road conditions and passenger density and has further sought to quash the order dated March 23.