Chennai: The sticker stamping drive that the police and transport department are conducting on autos have had good feedback from citizens.
Red signifies a clean record over the last two years and blue is being given on the basis of random checks. According to recent data from the traffic police, 34,000 autos of the over 70,000 plying in the city have been given the blue sticker and 7,300 the red one, which commuters prefer. This is becoming a source of encouragement for drivers.
Professor K.P. Subramanian, former professor of urban engineering at Anna University, says, “Autos form an important part of intermediate transport, they are a better alternative to private vehicles and they have to be encouraged through such steps.
They needed to be reined in as they were an adamant lot, but now there has been a visible change in attitude among the drivers. Stickers are a good short-term measure that has boosted people’s confidence.”
Auto drivers’ union president M. S. Rajendran says, “Auto drivers have been receptive to the idea. It’s become easier for those who abide by the rules.”
