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MANGALURU: Believe it or not. The permit of auto rickshaws, that is issued for Rs 500, is sold at a whopping sum of Rs 1.75 lakh in black market in coastal city.

The matter was raised by members of various auto rickshaw drivers associations at a meeting convened by deputy commissioner AB Ibrahim here on Saturday. Members of dakshina kannada district auto rickshaw drivers association, mangalore taluk auto rickshaw drivers association and dakshina kannada auto rickshaw drivers federation complained that auto rickshaw permits issued under various government schemes are being misused through sale. They alleged that auto rickshaw permits issued under various schemes that are implemented for the welfare of SC/ST, minorities and other weaker sections are sold in black market for huge amount.

"Auto rickshaw permits are being sold in black market for huge amount. Though the permit cost about Rs 500, it fetches about Rs 1.75 lakh in black market. The district administration should check such irregularities by introducing restrictions. Let permits be issued to those unemployed youth, who are interested to drive auto rickshaw and make it a livelihood," said District Auto Rickshaw Drivers Association treasurer VN Prakash.

Taluk drivers association president B Vishnumoorthi urged the district administration not to issue permits to businessmen and employees. "There are many people, who own 10-12 auto rickshaw permits in the city. Issue permits to only those who work as auto rickshaw driviers," he said.

Federation president Ashok Kumar Shetty said that the district administration should take steps to prevent all irregularities.

Auto rickshaw drivers demanded that Zone I (Mangaluru City) permits should not be issued to drivers, who live outside the city corporation limits. They also urged the district administration to make it mandatory for all auto rickshaws to display zone number in 6x4 inch space.

Deputy commissioner Ibrahim directed RTO Afzal Ahmed Khan to take necessary steps to prevent such illegal transactions. The DC directed officials to scrutinize applications under various schemes of central and state governments properly before sanctioning auto rickshaws.

The Mangalore RTO had stopped issuing permits under general category in 1997 considering the increase in the number of auto rickshaws in the city.