Petrol, diesel autos to make way for LPG vehicles

Chennai, Sep 18 (UNI) Autorickshaws in the city will soon become eco-friendly as the Tamil Nadu Government has decided to replace the petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles with LPG fitted ones.

Announcing this at a function after flagging off five ultra luxury air-conditioned buses here last evening, Local Administration Minister M K Stalin said the Government had decided to help autorickshaw drivers to switch over to LPG fuel as they were causing a lot of pollution.

Mr Stalin, who distributed subsidised permits for LPG fuel autorickshaws, said the Government, in a phased manner, would ensure that all the 33,000 autos plying in the city switched over to LPG fuel. Besides being eco-friendly, LPG would be a viable alternative fuel for the drivers, as it was available at Rs 27 per kg.

Initially, permits would be given to 10,000 autorickshaws, with preference given to women and unemployed youth. In a phased manner, all the 33,000 autorickshaws in the city would be made eco-friendly, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Transport Minister K N Nehru said the State Government would give a subsidy of Rs 2,000 for conversion of petrol and diesel run autos to LPG. The Government would also arrange for loans for autorickshaw drivers, he added.

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