AGARTALA, June 20 (TIWN): Chief Minister Biplab Deb while launching SMART City project said that without good traffic management a city can never become "smart". So at first Govt will take care of the traffic system. Following the route of CM’s decision, in the cabinet various proposals were brought in this regard today and finally the cabinet led by CM approved the meter auto launching.

After the meeting, Govt of Tripura in a notification vide No.F.5(15)-TRANS/2018 has announced that installation of fare meters in auto rickshaws within AMC areas as well as withdrawal of route permit system. In a press meet, Law Minister Ratanlal Nath had briefed media.

Indeed it was High Court which had allowed the Govt to take decision for city's betterment in 2014.

"The state transport authority has issued permits to all autos to ply as contact carriage vehicle in their respective routes with specific starting point and ending point. The distance of most of the routes are not more than 20 km. But, till date the passengers could not travel due to restricted permits, cause huge problems for the commuters", the cabinet has discussed.

From now the auto drivers will be bound to ply with passengers according to their choice within AMC, said the Minister.

There will be other ways of plying except meters however.

It can be mentioned here that the Law Dept has vetted a draft regarding installation of meter in auto rickshaw in 2018 U.No. 3136/ Secretary Law / 2018. In January 2019 also the matter was placed before the cabinet but was deferred. Finally, today CM Biplab Deb has approved the proposal.

It may be a part of moving the city towards models of big-cities,  also to bring a huge relief for the passengers.