Tamil Nadu: Autos across state barring Chennai can ply from May 23

The Tamil Nadu government on Friday (May 22) allowed auto and cycle-rickshaws to ply across the state, except Chennai, from May 23, with conditions including a limit on the number of passengers allowed in an auto.

Vehicles in the Chennai city corporation police limit areas will not be allowed to ply, while those in containment zones also cannot run, a government release said.

In rest of the areas in the state, both auto and cycle-rickshaws can ply from 7 am to 7 pm, it said.

The statement comes a day after reports surfaced that auto drivers from the state were planning to hold a protest on Thursday (May 21) outside district Collector’s offices in their respective districts.

While speaking to The New Indian Express, M Sivaji, general secretary, CITU Auto federation said a lot of auto drivers were struggling for food due to the lockdown.

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“In some places in Kerala and Pondicherry, where there are very few cases, autos have been allowed to ply with only one or two passengers. However, in Tamil Nadu, there is no such announcement,” he said.

He further claimed that of the 2,85,000 autos in Tamil Nadu, the ₹2,000 promised by the chief minister for the auto drivers has been given only to 7,000-odd drivers.

The guidelines for auto drivers resuming their work further read that besides the driver, there should be only one passenger in the vehicle, which should also be sprayed with disinfectants three times a day, the government said.

Further, both occupants of the vehicle must wear face masks and hand sanitizers must be made available in the vehicle for the passengers, while the drivers should regularly wash their hands using soap, it said.

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The release said the government was announcing various relaxations to the ongoing coronavirus-induced lockdown, factoring in both the spread of the contagion as well as peoples livelihood.

The government has already allowed relaxations including opening of shops and resumption of manufacturing and construction activities among others with considerable restrictions in place to prevent any possible spread of the pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)