Hindustan Times (Noida)

Autos to sport unique colour coded number

- HT Correspond­ent htreporter­s@hindustant­imes.com

TRAFFIC POLICE SAID WHEN AUTORICKSH­AWS BREACH THEIR ZONAL LIMITS, THEY CAUSE OVERCROWDI­NG ON THE ROADS IN THESE AREAS

From Thursday, the Noida traffic police will begin registerin­g auto-rickshaws for colour codes that will help show its area of operation.

Ganesh Saha, deputy commission­er of police, (traffic) Gautam Budh Nagar, said that the district had three zones for auto-rickshaws, Noida, Kasna, and Dadri. An auto-rickshaw registered in Noida, for example, is permitted to ply only within a 16-km radius there. But this rule is frequently breached, he said.

“We will provide the autoricksh­aws with a unique serial number that will be painted on the rear of the vehicle in red, green and yellow paints for the regions. This way they can be easily identified, will ensure discipline and also commuters’ safety,” he said. The colour for each region was yet to be decided.

Traffic police said when auto-rickshaws breach their limits, it will contribute to overcrowdi­ng on the roads in these zones.

The registrati­on drive will be conducted at Noida Sector 37 and Pari Chowk. Police said that they will verify the credential­s of vehicle, its driver and its owner and only then paint the number.

“This way we can easily trace the vehicle if a crime takes place in an auto-rickshaw or a commuter forget their valuables in the vehicle,” deputy commission­er of police Saha said.

Last week, a 30-year-old

Gautam Budh Nagar resident was allegedly raped while she was on her way back from work in Ghaziabad. She had boarded an auto-rickshaw from Lal Kuan, which allegedly drove her to a secluded spot in Hapur instead. Police arrested three suspects in the case.

There are around 18,000 autos in Gautam Budh Nagar that ply in Noida, Greater Noida, Dadri, Kasna and Jewar area. Besides, there are also auto-rickshaws permitted to ply in the national capital region (NCR), which police said, will not be included in the colour code scheme.

Chaudhury Om Prakash, president of the Noida Auto Union, said that they were not informed of the exercise.

“We support the colour coding exercise, but not the 16-km limitation. A person will need to hire two autos to travel from Noida to Greater Noida and vice versa if this comes into effect. This does not appear practical. Delhi is bigger than Gautam Budh Nagar but it has a single permit for auto-rickshaws. We also demand a single permit in Gautam Budh Nagar,” he said.

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