- By Akansha Pandey
- Sat, 20 Dec 2025 04:48 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
In a bid to make the city congestion-free, the Traffic Police and Transport Department have tightened regulations regarding public transport. Effective January 1, only auto-rickshaws possessing a valid city permit will be allowed to operate within the city limits. Auto-rickshaws from rural areas will be prohibited from entering the 16 km radius of the city.
The New Regulations
To manage the growing number of auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws, authorities have decided to strictly segregate city and rural operations.
Permit Restriction: Only autos with a city permit (approximately 3,000 vehicles) will be allowed inside.
Identification Drive: The traffic police are conducting a drive to affix coded stickers to valid city autos for easy identification.
Enforcement: While the Transport Department’s 15-day deadline has expired and they have begun issuing challans, the Traffic Department has set a final deadline of December 31.
Enforcement And Warnings
Authorities previously held a joint meeting with the Auto Association, instructing them to ensure adherence to permit routes. However, citing a lack of initiative from the association, the departments have now stepped up direct action.
Checks: SP Traffic, CO Traffic, and Traffic Inspectors are conducting checks at various crossings.
Announcements: The Traffic Department is utilising public address systems at the Municipal Corporation to instruct drivers to visit the traffic office for stickers before the deadline.
Penalty: After January 1, rural autos found operating within the city will face immediate challans and impoundment.
Impact On Traffic And Routes
Traffic Inspector Manoj Rai stated that banning rural autos will significantly reduce congestion and allow city-permitted autos to operate freely within the 16 km radius.
Decongestion: Crowds are expected to reduce significantly at major bottlenecks like Shastri Crossing, Ambedkar Crossing, and Dharamshala, where rural autos currently park.
Rural Terminals: Autos from rural areas will be permitted to travel only as far as the city periphery points: Nausadh, Bargadwa, HN Crossing, and Kudaghat. A decision on permanent stopping points is pending.
Exemptions For Medical Emergencies
The Traffic Police clarified that humanitarian exceptions will apply to the new rule.
Patient Transport: Rural autos carrying patients or operating in an emergency will not be stopped.
Verification: Drivers claiming an emergency will have to state the valid reason to gain entry.
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The Issue Of 'Black Autos'
The Transport Department noted that black-coloured autos have been officially banned since 2015. Despite this, many are still running unchecked, transporting passengers and even schoolchildren.
Strict Ban: A complete ban has been reiterated for these vehicles. From January 1, only city-permit autos with the new stickers will be allowed on the roads.
Official Statement
SP Traffic, Rajkumar Pandey, commented on the ongoing drive:
"From January 1, only autos with city permits will operate inside the city. For identification, a drive is underway to affix coded stickers to autos. The final deadline for this is 31 December. So far, stickers have been applied to 600 autos. Drivers whose vehicles do not yet have a sticker but hold a city permit should obtain and affix one from the traffic office or from traffic police personnel at crossings. Once the deadline passes, they will have to operate outside the city."