Delhi CM has said that Auto rikshaws should be taken off Delhi roads gradually as the public deserved better modes of transportation.

 

Dikshit pointed out that half of the 1 lakh plus autos running in Delhi were illegal and even highlighted the growing mis behaviour by auto drivers. She said passengers are often harassed by auto drivers who are also very unruly and rash while driving. Apart from that there is the problem of the pollution caused by these autos. She said that a more eco-friendly alternative was required. She said, "Auto-rickshaws are not a good option. They are uncomfortable and pollute environment. Auto-rickshaw drivers are unruly and harass passengers."   

 

She said battery operated eco-friendly transport would be a much better idea as opposed to autos. Dikshit said, “I am concerned about the traffic situation and autos are low standard transport. They cannot be the future and will have to be converted or replaced with a better and eco-friendly alternative.” She said that many automobile manufacturers had approached the Delhi government with proposals of battery-operated auto-rickshaws, cars and vans.

 

She even rejected the idea of reviewing the cap on the number of autos. The idea was proposed by senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi who said the cap on autos should be increased from the existing 55,000.

 

She however said that the phasing out will not be done immediately. She said, "The proposal to phase out auto-rickshaws is certainly not going to be done immediately. We just want that in future, cleaner fuels are used for public transport. This is in a very embryonic stage... let us see where the future takes us."

 

She also mentioned that the matter would be taken up with the Transport department and a planned phasing out of autos would be done over a period of four years.