Mangaluru: The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has identified 210 places in its 60 wards as authorised autorickshaw parks. The places were identified after conducting a study and seeking suggestions from drivers and representatives of various unions.A council meeting of the city corporation approved the revised list of autorickshaw parks in 2022. Prior to the identification of the locations, ACP of Mangaluru City traffic police, along with the office bearers of autorickshaw drivers’ and owners’ unions, conducted a study. Following this, a recommendation was made to declare a list of autorickshaw parks. Accordingly, the proposal was sent for approval in the MCC council, seeking approval on a condition that the approved list may undergo changes during the road development works, said MCC commissioner Ravichandra Naik. The revised list of the autorickshaw parks in the city was discussed at a meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Darshan HV, who is also the administrator of the MCC, recently. Provision to park 30-40 vehicles has been made at Kavoor-Konchadi junction and 35 at Kankanady Junction railway station. Similarly, 25 vehicles will be allowed to park at State Bank Junction and at Lady Hill Junction (Brahmasri Narayana Guru Circle). Further, except Padavinangady, Sultan Battery, Urwa Store Junction, Urwa (opposite Canara High School), AB Shetty Circle, Central Railway Station (two locations), all other autorickshaw parks will have provisions to park less than 20 vehicles. Various autorickshaw drivers’ and owners’ forums, including the Federation of Karnataka Autorickshaw Drivers Union and other like-minded organisations, have been demanding that the number of autorickshaw parks in the city needs to be increased considering the number of vehicles registered in the city, and entry of more electric autorickshaws. The city with more than 7,000 autorickshaws had 375 stands, but the number was reduced to 115 due to road widening and concreting. Increasing autorickshaw stands will help in reducing the conflicts between drivers.
