KOCHI: The Kochi corporation
has decided to make changes to the list of autorickshaw stands within
the city limit. The decision has come in the wake of Kerala High Court
order stating that autorickshaw and taxi stands can only be allowed
after leaving at least one-and-a-half-metres vacant for pedestrians from
the edge of the road.

The revised list with changes necessitated by the high court order will be presented before the council soon.

The corporation along with the city traffic police had already prepared a new list of auto stands
in different parts of the city. “We are yet to receive the details of
the HC order in this regard. However, we will effect changes in the list
accordingly,” said mayor Tony Chammany. In an effort to enhance public
transport facilities, the civic body and police had prepared a list of
135 auto stands at different parts of the city. Besides the existing
auto stands, officials had also handpicked a few more spots for new
stands.

Officials with the motor vehicles department said they
were planning to allot more city auto permits. Earlier, there were
around 5,000 autorickshaws with city permits. “But a special drive
conducted by the department found that only 1,385 autorickshaws had city
permits. We will allot more permits to take the total to 4,000,” said
Ernakulam RTO, B J Antony.

Even before the high court order,
the authorities had taken a decision to have stands only on roads having
a width of seven metres.

But for taxis, there are only three stands in the city, namely at Palarivattom, Woodlands Junction and near Taj Malabar Hotel in Willngdon Island.

However, there are illegal taxi stands functioning in various parts of the city.