THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For autorickshaws, the transport department is considering issuing four types of permits — state, city and inter-district — in addition to the usual ones. Each permit will be given a different colour. A final decision in this regard will be taken at the next transport authority meeting.

The CITU state leadership, which opposed the issuance of the state permit, has withdrawn from the opposition. In granting the permit, the ideas they put forward in their discussions with Minister Ganesh Kumar were also considered

One of the demands of the Kerala State Auto Taxi and Light Motor Workers Federation (CITU) was that the tax should not be increased as part of granting state permits.

The state permit should be issued only to those in need. Those who are not interested in a state permit should be allowed to travel fully in the district adjoining their own district. At present, autos are allowed to run only 20 km in the neighbouring district. Vehicles that have obtained a permit should be prevented from carrying and parking passengers from other stands. Vehicles that do not have a city permit should not be parked in the city and allowed to load people. Other demands were that the STA withdraw its new decision that the driver alone was responsible for the accident.

The other demands were that the state permit should be issued only to those in need, those who are not interested in the state permit should be allowed to travel fully in the district adjacent to their own district (currently autos are allowed to run only 20 km in the neighbouring district), the vehicles that have obtained the permit should be prevented from parking and taking passengers from other stands, vehicles without a city permit should not be allowed to park in the city and load a person, the new decision that the driver should be solely responsible for the accident be withdrawn.

Change in permit: current understanding

State - can provide service anywhere in the state - must pay more taxes

Inter-district - service can be provided to nearby districts - nominal tax increase under consideration

City - can take passengers from within the city- current tax

Ordinary- no passengers from within the city- current taxes