“The maths is simple. The autorickshaws of today have a 30-litre cylinder that weighs around 40 kilogram. At a single go only 3 kg of CNG can be filled that only lasts for a single shift of seven to 12 hours. Thus, drivers have to keep re-filling,” said Kurian.
Tired of the shortage of autorickshaws or being stuck on the road due to autos blocking a lane, in queue for refilling CNG, leading to a traffic jam, an auto union has come up with a solution for the state transport department.
Thampy Kurian, general secretary of Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union has proposed that rickshaws should have two cylinders for filling up CNG instead of the present one as 83 CNG dispensing outlets in Western and Eastern suburbs are not adequate for around 80,000 to 85,000 autorickshaws. He added that the situation was slated to get worse as gradually more autos are added, taking the number to an expected 1,70,000.
“The maths is simple. The autorickshaws of today have a 30-litre cylinder that weighs around 40 kilogram. At a single go only 3 kg of CNG can be filled that only lasts for a single shift of seven to 12 hours. Thus, drivers have to keep re-filling,” said Kurian.
Talking about the solution Kurian informs that the State transport department will have to take interest and direct the auto manufacturers first to only manufacturer auto with two cylinders. “With two cylinders the CNG would last for one whole day and the long queues would reduce considerably and apart from this the current autos too can get the two cylinders fitted and infact there are extremely light weight cylinders available now which are long lasting,” he said adding that in year 2005 Bajaj autos had even launched autos with two cylinders one below the drivers seat and other behind passengers seat but discontinued after auto were allowed 30 litre cylinder from then 22 litre cylinder.
In fact, the union was even asked by the transport department to try and test an auto with two cylinders and then get it cleared by the Automative Research Association of India (ARAI). “We are more keen that the transport department take this issue seriously as increasing number of autos, less number of CNG pumps as well as traffic jams caused due to auto's lining up on the roads is becoming a common scene and it's time that the transport department looks at the future and takes steps to mitigate the problem,” he added.
A senior official from a Regional Transport Office (RTO) from western suburbs who acknowledged the problem stated that the proposal was not very easy to implement . “It has its own issues as a lot of clearances will be required and other unions and auto drivers will have to be convinced about it but its true that it seems to be the only solution to a bigger problem that will arise in time to come as more CNG vehicles will hit the roads. We will surely put this proposal and even discuss this with seniors in the transport department.”
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