40,000 more autos on Bangalore roads

BANGALORE: Government has given permission to issue permits for 40,000 new autorickshaws in the city, Transport Minister R Ashoka said here today.He said permit fee has been brought down to Rs 500 from the earlier Rs 30,000. Auto drivers who come forward to upgrade their two-stroke three-wheelers bought before the year 2000 into a four-stroke one with digital meters would given a financial aid of Rs 15,000 under a Rs 22-lakh fund for the purpose, Ashoka told reporters.Insurance benefits under Vajyayee Arogyashree would be extended to Auto drivers coming under the jurisdiction of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (Bangalore city corporation), he said.Ashoka also said the Transport department would buy Euro-IV compliant buses.