17,787 rickshaws in Pune have switched over to Compressed Natural Gas

As many as 17,787 rickshaws - 39% of the total number of rickshaws in the city - have switched over to compressed natural gas ( CNG. ) by March-end this year.  CNG.  kits have also been fitted in 4,392 light motor vehicles (cars) in the city.

According to the latest statistics available with the Regional Transport Office (RTO), around 45,000 rickshaws operate in the city, of which 17,787 run on  CNG.  while another 8,134 run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This makes for 57% of the city's rickshaws running on environment-friendly fuel.

An RTO official said, "Since the last couple of years, we have registered a significant increase in the number of applications for passing of rickshaws fitted with  CNG.  kits. As many as 13,621 rickshaws opted for CNG kits in the last two years. Of these, 7,538 vehicles made the change in 2011-12 and 6,083 in 2010-11. The RTO received more than 560 applications every month."

Baba Shinde, former member of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), welcomed the decision of rickshaw-owners to go in for  CNG. . "The government has made it mandatory for rickshaws to switch over to CNG. It is also mandatory for new rickshaws to have  CNG.  kit fitted in them. Initially, there was resistance to  CNG.  from among rickshaw-owners, but that has reduced now," he said.

Shinde, who is with the Pune City Auto Rickshaw Federation, said the municipal corporation should expedite the process of disbursing CNG subsidy among rickshaw drivers. Rickshaw man Raju Kadam said  CNG.  was a cheaper option given the current prices of petrol. "Running rickshaws on CNG helps us save money. Besides, CNG helps curb pollution," he said.

However, Nana Kshirsagar of the Maharashtra Rickshaw Sena felt that the government needed to take urgent steps to provide adequate and regular supply of CNG at refilling stations. "Rickshaw drivers have to wait in long queues at CNG stations, which affects their daily earnings," he said.

There are around 15 CNG refilling stations in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.

Separate fares for autos using CNG sought

Commuter organizations in the city have said that rickshaws running on  CNG.  should have a different fare structure from those running on petrol.

Vishwas Sahastrabuddhe of the Sajag Nagrik Manch said, "Besides a separate fare structure, rickshaws using  CNG.  should also have a dedicated colour (like green) for their hoods. This will help passengers identify  CNG. -operated rickshaws. Passengers can avoid travelling in rickshaws that still run on petrol."

Suryakant Pathak of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat said the proposal for a separate fare structure for  CNG. -run rickshaws has already been submitted to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). The benefit of using the cheaper  CNG.  should be passed on to travellers, he said.