He said the Centre had recently advised Maharashtra to manage auto permits in major cities based on local conditions and transport requirements. Sarnaik welcomed the advisory and said the state would deliberate on policy measures aimed at ensuring better and more accessible transport for citizens. The decision came amid a sharp rise in the number of CNG autos in MMR, particularly in the suburbs. The population of CNG autos operating in Mumbai’s suburban belt is now nearing the 3-lakh mark. Officials said around 60% of Mumbai’s autos operate in the western suburbs, with the rest concentrated in the eastern suburbs. Welcoming the decision, union leader Keshav Kshirsagar from Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha said: “As auto permits were distributed in far greater numbers than needed across the state, it had become difficult for existing drivers to earn adequate business. At the same time, the increasing number of autos in major cities was also making the problem of traffic jams severe.”
