Hyderabad to get 65,000 new eco-friendly auto-rickshaws; check details here

Hyderabad: The Telangana government has approved the registration of 65,000 new non-petrol, non-diesel auto-rickshaws within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits of Hyderabad to tackle rising pollution and meet the demands of a rapidly growing urban population.

The decision, announced through GO No. 263, was spearheaded by Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and aligns with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s vision for a greener and more sustainable city. This marks a major policy shift, as the city had not seen new auto-rickshaw permits in recent years due to regulatory restrictions.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has now issued fresh orders allowing a limited number of electric, CNG, and LPG-powered autorickshaws to operate inside the ORR.

“The city's growing population and rapid urbanisation, including the emergence of new apartment complexes and layouts, have heightened the demand for last-mile transport options,” said Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar.

“To address both the demand and environmental concerns, we are now permitting eco-friendly autorickshaws to ply within ORR limits," he said.

The government believes that allowing these green autos will help reduce both air and noise pollution, while also catering to the increased mobility needs of citizens in expanding urban pockets.

This decision comes amid calls from various quarters for sustainable urban mobility solutions in the face of Hyderabad’s fast-paced growth.

Permit breakdown for new Auto-Rickshaws

Under the new order, the following permits have been granted for Electric Auto-Rickshaws (20,000), LPG Auto-Rickshaws (10,000), CNG Auto-Rickshaws (10,000) and Retrofitted Auto-Rickshaws (25,000) petrol/diesel vehicles converted to eco-friendly alternatives.

Focus on retrofitting and environmental benefits

In addition to promoting new eco-friendly autos, the government is also encouraging retrofitting of existing petrol and diesel three-wheelers. Owners of such vehicles will now be permitted to convert their engines to run on electricity, CNG, or LPG using approved retrofit kits.

To support this transition, the government currently offers a Rs 15,000 subsidy, with proposals underway to raise this amount to Rs 25,000. Once retrofitted and inspected, the vehicles will receive a new registration and green number plates, indicating their eco-friendly status.

A step towards sustainable urban transport

This decision is expected to yield multiple benefits including reduction of air and noise pollution, enhanced last-mile connectivity, employment opportunities for over 65,000 families, and revamped public transport ecosystem in Hyderabad.

By restricting new petrol and diesel auto permits and focusing solely on clean alternatives, the Telangana government is not only addressing environmental concerns but also improving transport infrastructure to support a growing city.

For application details and eligibility criteria, citizens can visit the official Telangana Transport Department portal: https://transport.telangana.gov.in, the transport department officials said.