Digital meter to the rescue

Digital meter to the rescue


Following a protest by autorickshaw drivers, the state government made it optional for owners/drivers to change the colour of autos from the existing yellow and black to green and yellow.
Also, the transport department will go ahead with digital fare meters and four-stroke engines for all autorickshaws.
Transport minister R Ashoka told reporters here on Wednesday that the department, through change of colour, wanted to convey an environment-friendly message and reduce pollution. “Owners and drivers have opposed this decision, stating the move does not serve any purpose and only imposes a heavy
financial burden on them,’’ Ashoka said. The unions complained that drivers/owners have to spend Rs 15,000-20,000 to change the colour of an autorickshaw.
Four-stroke engines will reduce pollution, and also vibration, when the vehicle is moving, the minister said. Environment experts say that two-stroke engines are major contributors to air pollution in the city.
According to them, unless fourstroke engines are introduced in a mass scale to replace two-stroke ones, air pollution will increase manifold in some years. TNN