Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Nov 6: As gas filling stations have already started operations in the city as well as Udupi and Puttur, the government, in addition to cities like Mysore, Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Davangere, Shimoga and Hassan, made it mandatory for all the autorickshaws operating in these places, to compulsorily fit gas kits. Those registered between April 1 this year and October 31, have to fit authorized gas kits by the end of this year, while other rickshaws have been given varying deadlines between December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009, for fixing gas kits.

At present, several autorickshaws are running on domestic LPG and pay fines as and when caught. For them, this move has come as a relief.  For people too, apart from giving benefits by way of less environment pollution, in course of time, auto fares might be revised downwardly.

Autorickshaws run for about 30 kms per litre on petrol while they run for 26 kms on gas. Petrol costs about Rs 60 including cost of oil, while a litre of gas costs Rs 36. Initial gas kits cost around Rs 12,000 and the government provides subsidy of Rs 2,000 to encourage their use. So, autorickshaws will find that using gas for running their vehicles will save about a third of the fuel costs.

At present, autorickshaws running in district and taluk headquarters alone have been asked to fix gas kits.