NEW DELHI: From October next year, all auto-rickshaws hitting Indian roads will have more safety features. There will be doors or passenger retention compartments to prevent anyone falling from the moving vehicle, mandatory use of seatbelt for drivers and dimensions of passenger and driver ’s seats will be specified.Sources said the norms have been formulated following a court order, which had directed the government to look into introducing safety features both for driver and passengers. According to road transport ministry’s Road Accidents report, auto-rickshaws were involved in 29,351 crashes which claimed 6,762 lives in 2017. Auto-rickshaw is a major mode of transport for last-mile connectivity in urban areas and for long there have been debates whether these are very stable vehicles. Annually, about 5-6 lakh auto-rickshaws are sold in India. According to officials, two-point retractable seat belt will be made mandatory for drivers. It will be similar to the ones used in flights. “New auto-rickshaws will have more leg space for passengers so that they can sit comfortably and the specifications for headlamps have been modified to get higher output. There will be two headlights instead of the present practice of one,” said an official.