HT Correspondent
AGARTALA, June 17: In a bid to streamline traffic and curb unauthorized auto-rickshaw movement, the Tripura government has announced new regulations restricting the entry of outstation autos into Agartala city.
The government has also mandated that all autos operating within the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area be painted pink for easy identification.
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Transport Minister Sushanta Choudhury today made the announcement on Monday evening, stating that the move follows a high-level meeting held on June 10 with officials from the Transport and Traffic Departments, senior police officers, and auto syndicate leaders.
“We have noticed that while city autos generally do not venture outside, a large number of autos from other subdivisions regularly enter Agartala without proper permits. This leads to disputes with city auto drivers and law enforcement,” said the Minister.
He added that after extensive consultations with stakeholders—including vehicle owners, IG of Police, SP Traffic, and Transport Department officials—it was decided to implement colour coding for autos. As per the decision, autos registered to operate within the AMC area must be painted pink. Autos from outside the city will continue with their existing colours.
Minister Choudhury made it clear that outstation autos found operating within Agartala without a valid reason or documentation will face action. “Only in emergency situations—such as taking a patient to the hospital or a passenger to the airport—will entry be allowed, provided valid documents like hospital referrals or air tickets are shown,” he said.
Auto owners in Agartala have been given a one-month deadline to repaint their vehicles. The police and auto syndicates have been tasked with ensuring smooth implementation.
In a related development, the Minister also directed the Joint Transport Commissioner to notify schools against using private vehicles without commercial permits to transport students, calling it a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Reinforcing the legal limits, Choudhury said that three-wheelers are allowed to operate only within a 15-kilometre radius. Accordingly, surveillance will be intensified at 13 designated checkpoints (naka points) to prevent unauthorized entry of autos from beyond the AMC area.
To ensure effective enforcement, the SP Traffic will prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate the movement of autos and monitor compliance across the city.
