Hyderabad: In a move aimed at both cutting pollution and generating employment, the Telangana government has relaxed the rules for auto rickshaws operating within the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced on Saturday that new guidelines would allow electric, LPG, and CNG auto rickshaws to ply the roads inside the ORR, a shift from the previous ban that had left many drivers in limbo.
Under the earlier ban, no new auto rickshaws were permitted to operate in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits, a decision that had drawn criticism from drivers’ associations and communities dependent on autos for their livelihood. But with the release of G.O. No. 263, the state has now opened the doors for a carefully managed influx of eco-friendly autos.
Prabhakar said the decision reflects Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s commitment to tackling air pollution while addressing the city’s growing transport needs. “This move will directly benefit around 65,000 families who rely on autorickshaw driving as their primary source of income,” he noted.
The government has sanctioned 20,000 new electric autorickshaws and 10,000 each for LPG and CNG-powered autos within the ORR. Additionally, 25,000 existing diesel and petrol vehicles will be allowed to retrofit their engines to run on electric, LPG, or CNG.
The minister highlighted Hyderabad’s rapid population growth and the mushrooming of new residential areas, which have strained public transport systems. With more people depending on autorickshaws, the decision to allow electric and alternative fuel autos is expected to ease congestion, reduce emissions, and support urban mobility.
However, Prabhakar made it clear that the new guidelines prohibit any further addition of diesel and petrol autorickshaws within the ORR, nor will transfers of such vehicles be permitted. This ensures that the focus remains firmly on clean and sustainable transport options for the city.
