Diesel Autorickshaw Ban

Auto rickshaw is a major mode of travel in Delhi-NCR. Apart from metro and buses, a large number of people use auto rickshaws to reach their destination. But diesel auto rickshaws will be completely banned in Gurugram city of Haryana from January next year. This decision may cause inconvenience to commuters, as the city is already known for its traffic and travel problems.

Why was diesel auto rickshaw banned in Gurugram?

Gurugram district administration has announced that all diesel-run auto rickshaws will be removed from the city roads by December 31, 2024.

• New registrations closed: No new registration of diesel auto rickshaws has been done in Gurugram since 2023.
• December 31st deadline: Orders have been given to confiscate the existing diesel auto rickshaws by December 31.
• Strict monitoring: Police and administration have been instructed that no diesel auto should be seen on the roads of Gurugram after this deadline.

Following CAQM guidelines

The Gurugram district administration has taken this step citing the instructions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

• Efforts to improve air quality: On November 30, 2022, CAQM had issued a directive to reduce air pollution in NCR.
• Electric and CNG Suggestion: It was recommended to allow registration of only electric and CNG auto rickshaws from January 2023.
• Phased Plan: Different deadlines for removal of diesel auto rickshaws have been fixed for different districts of NCR.

Deadline fixed for other districts including Gurugram

Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar said that the last date to remove diesel auto rickshaws for districts like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar is December 31, 2024.

• Relief to other districts: Other nearby districts have time till December 31, 2025.
• Efforts to reduce pollution: This step has been taken to improve the air quality of Gurugram, which has at times reached dangerous levels.

Strict instructions and monitoring

The district administration has directed the police and other concerned departments to ensure that the operation of diesel auto rickshaws is completely stopped.

• Monitoring Sharing Auto: The administration has asked to monitor the passenger capacity of sharing auto rickshaws.
• Action on illegal vehicles: Orders have been given to immediately confiscate unregistered autos and three-wheelers driven by drivers below 18 years of age.

impact on passengers

This decision will have a direct impact on the common commuters of Gurugram, who depend on auto rickshaws for their daily commute.

• Travel problems: Due to decrease in the number of auto rickshaws, passengers may face difficulty in travelling.
• E-Rickshaw and CNG Options: The administration believes that electric and CNG auto rickshaws will reduce this problem.
• Possibility of fare increase: Travel fares may increase due to closure of diesel autos.